I     LIBRARY     ) 

UNIVERSITY  OF 
CALIFORNIA 

SAN  DIEGO      j 


3L,   I 


ASA  G.  \SHELDONt 


WILMINGTON    FAEMEE, 


IN  TWO  ARRANGEMENTS. 


WO  BURN: 
:£.  1.  XOODY,  PRINTER,  JOURNAL  PfiiiS^ 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1662,  by  • 
ASA  GOODELL  SHELDON, 

IB  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of 
Massachusetts. 


PEEFAOE, 


To  gratify  the  wishes  of  numerous 
friends,  to  indulge  in  living  the  past 
over  again,  to  give  what  I  may  of 
encouragement  to  the  temperate  and 
diligent,  to  cheer  the  disheartened, 
amid  the  common  trials  of  life,  to  give 
my  voice  of  warning  to  the  selfish 
and  vicious,  and  to  add  a  mite  of  ex- 
perimental knowledge  to  this  age  of 
improvement,  this  unpretending  auto- 
biography is  sent  forth,  hoping  it  may 
meet  with  the  same  kindly  reception 
from  friends  and  the  community  at 
large,  as,  for  so  many  years,  has  its 

AUTHOR. 


if*  of 


FIKST    AKKANGEMENT. 


FIRST  LINK  IK  THE  CHAIN  OF  LIFE, 

I  was  born  in  Lynnfield,  Mass.,  Oct, 
"24th,  1788.  My  first  recollections  are 
of  the  domestic  circle,  in  connection 
with  parents,  brothers  and  sisters. 

My  father,  Jeremiah  Sheldon,  was 
son  of  Skelton  Sheldon,  and  he  a  son 
of  Godfrey  Sheldon,  the  first  on  record 
in  this  country.  He  was  a  man  of 
nniform  cheerfulness,  and  sweet,  even 
temper.  I  do  not  remember  his  ever 
speaking  a  cross  word  to  me.  In  writ- 
ing, he  possessed  an  uncommon  tacty 
and  in  the  capacity  of  clerk  attended 
Judge  Houghton  several  years  in  Con- 
gress, then  sitting  in  Philadelphia. 

My  mother's  name  was  Elizabeth 
Goodell,  of  English  extract  on  the  ma- 


4  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

temal  side,  whose  parent  emigrated 
from  the  Isle  of  Barbadoes  with  seven- 
teen slaves.  On  her  father's  side  she 
was  direct  descendant  from  General 
Putnam,  who  commanded  in  the  mem- 
orable battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  on  June 
17,  1775,  where  brave  Warren  fell. 
Like  her  world-renowned  ancestor,  she 
possessed  indomitable  energy  and  per- 
severance. The  plan  once  formed,  like 
Putnam  when  he  shot  the  "  Wolf  in 
his  den,"  was  carried  out  with  a  deter- 
mination of  purpose  that  brings  an  un- 
failing reward.  Their  children  were — 

ELBRIDGE,  born  Nov.- 18th,  1781,  married 
Eleanor  Harding. 

LUCINDA,  born  Aug.  7,  1783,  married  John 
Howard. 

SAMUEL  HOUGHTON,  born  Dec.  26,  1786, 
married  Sally  French. 

ASA  GOODELL,  born  Oct.  24,  1788,  married 
Clarissa  Eames. 

HARRIET,  born  Aug.  5,  1791. 

BETSEY,  born  Dec.  16,  1795. 

JEREMIAH,  born  Jan.  26,  1798,  married  an 
English  lady  in  South  America. 

SOPHIA,  born  Aug.  24,  1801,  married  Jo- 
seph R.  Hathaway. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  5 

In  my  mother  was  strikingly  exem- 
plified King  Solomon's  wise  woman, 
who  "  seeketh  wool  and  flax,  and  work- 
eth  willingly  with  her  hands." 

For  many  years  she  entered  largely 
into  the  domestic  manufacture  of  blue 
and  white  striped  woollen  Frocking, 
then  generally  used  by  farmers,  team- 
sters and  butchers  ;  and  so  slow  were 
the  inroads  made  by  time  on  her  vigor- 
ous constitution,  that  she  was  able  to 
follow  that  business  until  within  four 
years  of  her  death,  which  occurred  at 
the  advanced  age  of  94  years  and  41 
days.  When  in  her  90th  year  she  pre- 
pared a  web  with  her  own  hands,  for 
which  she  realized  a  premium  from  the 
Agricultural  Society,  at  the  Cattle  Show 
at  Concord,  Mass.  When  88  years  of 
age,  she  expressed  a  desire  to  have 
four  apple  trees  set  for  her.  To  com- 
ply with  her  request,  I  selected  those 
that  promised  to  bear  young,  and  sent 
a  man  to  set  them.  Previous  to  his 
coming  she  had  driven  four  stakes  in 


6  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

the  four  corners  of  her  garden  and 
marked  the  circumference  of  the  holes 
she  wished  made.  This  made  ready, 
she  held  the  tree  and  gave  directions 
for  placing  the  roots  and  had  all  done 
to  her  approval.  She  lived  to  eat  fruit 
from  two  of  them.  Let  no  aged  per- 
son be  discouraged  about  setting  fruit 
trees.  Set  the  tree  if  you  have  oppor- 
tunity, and  if  you  never  eat  its  fruit, 
let  the  deed  be  ascribed  to  disinterested 
benevolence. 

As  wave  chases  ware  o'er  the  ocean's  dark  breast, 
•So  the  races  of  men  pass  on  to  their  rest ; 
Be  this  our  endeavor,  with  purpose  sublime, 
Some  footprints  to  leave  on  the  quicksands  of  time. 

Well  do  I  remember,  in  the  days  of 
my  childhood,  the  first  copper  ever 
earned  with  my  own  hands.  It  was 
by  opening  a  gate  for  Mrs.  Sherman, 
a  lady  on  horseback, — a  very  common 
mode  of  riding  in  those  days.  She 
told  me  to  keep  it,  and  she  would  give 
me  a  box  to  keep  it  in.  The  next  day 
I  received  a  tin  box  with  the  promise 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  7 

of  a  copper  every  time  I  would  open 
the  gate  for  her  or  her  husband,  when 
they  were  on  horsehack~  which  prom- 
ise was  faithfully  kept,  and  oftentimes 
to  my  great  joy  two  coppers  jingled 
into  the  box  instead  of  one.  At  that 
time  coppers  were  the  only  copper  cur- 
rency extant, —  108  of  them  making 
'$1, — and  our  cents  took  their  place. 
The  possession  of  the  tin  box  created 
a  strong  desire  to  have  it  filled.  Some, 
on  seeing  the  box  and  contents,  would 
drop  in  one  or  two  coppers,  while 
others  needed  urging  to  do  so ;  and 
with  pleasure  I  saw  rt  filling  up  more 
rapidly  than  I  had  anticipated.  It  was 
soon  found  to  contain  money  enough  to 
buy  me  a  pewter  porringer  out  of  which 
-to  eat  bread  and  milk  in  the  Bummer, 
and  broth  and  bean  porridge  in  the 
whiter  season ;  and  a  primer  to  study 
.the  Assembly'^  Catechism  in. 

The  arrangement  being  made  by  my 
mother,  I  went  to  pedlar  John  Parker's, 
.about  a  half  mile  distant,  to  make  the 


fc  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  S&ELB6N  : 

purchase,  my  sister  Liicinda  accord 
panying  me.  This  was  the  first  time  I 
had  ever  made  so  large  a  purchase,  and 
the  honest  pedlar,  seeing  he  had  taken 
my  last  copper1,  gave  me  a  tin  whistle. 
Like  Dr.  Franklin,  when  a  child,  "  I 
went  home  whistling."  I  would  here 
say  to  boys,  be  careful  of  noisy  amuse- 
ments within  doors ;  you  little  know 
how  much  it  annoys  parents  and  sen- 
iors, whose  heads  are  filled  to  overflow- 
ing with  the  cares  and  perplexities  of 
life.  Well  do  I  remember  how  much 
my  mother  was  tried  with  my  whistle. 
I  was  proud  enough  of  my  shining 
porringer,  and  the  possession  of  such 
a  treasure  gave  more  satisfaction  than 
many  dollars  ift  after  life. 

When  between  three  and  four  years 
of  age  Miss  Sherman  came  into  our 
house  and  said  to  mother,  "  Why  they 
do  say  Daniel  Hart  is  courting  Patty 
Tapley/'  I  was  very  anxious  for  her 
departure,  wishing  to  know  what  Dan- 
iel Hart  was  doing  to  Patty  Tapley, 


WILMlNtfTON  FARMEft.  9 

"  Mother,"  said  I,  as  soon  as  Miss 
Sherman  was  gone^  "  what  is  Daniel 
Hart  doing  to  Patty  Tapley/' 

"  What  do  you  mean,"  said  mother* 

"  Why,  Miss  Sherman  said  he  was 
courting  her." 

"  Oh,  he  is  coaxing  her  to  be  his 
wife,"  said  mother. 

Anon  this  couple  were  married,  she 
still  living  at  her  father's,  and  in  April, 
1793,  Mr.  Hart  was  presented  with  a 
son. 

I  was  much  at  home  at  neighbor 
Tapley's,  and  was  soon  asked  to  see 
the  baby. 

"  W^here  did  you  get  that  baby," 
said  I. 

"  The  Doctor  brought  it,"  said  she. 

"What  did  you  give  for  it?"  was 
the  next  question. 

"  If  I  like  it  well  enough  to  keep  it 
I  shall  give  $5,"  was  the  answer. 

"  Why  do  you  lie  there  in  bed?" 

"  To  keep  it  warm,"  said  she. 

Daniel  Hart  and  Patty  Tapley  raised 


10  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON : 

up  six  sons, — David,  Daniel,  Aaron, 
Elijah,  William  and  Tapley. 

These  six  sons  have  all  been  in  my 
employ, — five  of  them  at  one  time, 
when  the  Boston  and  Lowell  Railroad 
^was  in  process  of  construction.  It  has 
become  a  proverb,  that  "  all  Hart's 
,boys  were  born  with  a  whip  in  their 
:hand."  Certainly  I  should  not  know 
where  to  find  six  men,  possessed  of  so 
good  faculties  to  manage  oxen  and 
ihorses,  as  those  six  brothers.  And  it 
-appears  this  faculty  has  not  passed 
away  yet,  for  the  last  time  I  was  going 
to  Boston,  I  met  four  beautiful  horses 
with  a  large  load  of  manure,  driven  by 
Charles  C.  Hart,  son  of  D.  D.  Hart, 
and  great  grandson  to  Daniel  Hart  and 
Patty  Tapley.  It  seemed  to  be  moving 
along  with  as  much  ease  and  comfort 
as  a  lady  at  work  sitting  in  her  parlor 
rocking-chair. 

This  brings  to  mind  six  generations 
of  that  race  of  people,  since  I  came 
upon  the  stage  of  action.  Gilbert  Tap- 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  11 

ley  of  Danvers  ;  Joseph  Tapley  of  Lynn- 
field  ;  Patty  Tapley,  daughter  of  Joseph 
Tapley ;  David  Hart,  son  of  Daniel 
Hart  and  Patty  Tapley;  David  Dexter 
Hart,  of  Woburn,  and  Charles  Choate 
Hart,  his  son.  I  would  say  to  the  sixth 
generation,  that  it  is  my  hope  to  live 
to  see  the  seventh. 

Being  now  in  my  fifth  year,  and  hav- 
ing  often  heard  rivers  spoken  of,  my 
young  heart  was  filled  with  curiosity  to 
see  such  a  flow  of  water.  So  one  day, 
having  obtained  leave  of  mother,  bro^ 
ther  Samuel — who  was  two  or  three 
years  older  than  myself — and  I  started 
for  Ipswich  River,  about  a  mile  and  a 
half  distant.  On  the  way  we  stopped 
at  a  house,  where  we  were  joined  by 
three  other  boys,  strangers  to  me. 
The  two  eldest  were  Samuel  and  Os- 
good  Flint,  the  youngest  was  Samuel 
Gilford,  who  was  about  my  own  age. 
We  arrived  at  the  River  at  the  spot 
where  it  divides  Lynnfield  from  North 
Reading  and  where  a  bridge  has  since 


12  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

been  built,  about  fifty  rods  from  the 
East  School-house.  The  oldest  boys 
then  went  in  swimming,  while  Gilford 
and  myself  amused  ourselves  by  mud- 
dying our  feet  and  legs  and  then  sitting 
on  a  shelving  place  on  the  bank  and 
washing  them.  This  was  done  several 
times,  but  now  the  sport  assumed  a 
more  serious  character,  for  as  I  was 
sitting  unconscious  of  danger,  Gilford 
run  up  behind  and  pushed  me  into  the 
River,  where  the  water  was  over  my 
head.  Just  at  this  critical  moment  the 
other  boys  looking  round,  saw  Gilford 
running  toward  home,  and  the  Flints, 
knowing  him  to  be  a  bad  boy,  cried 
out,  "  Asa  is  in  the  River,"  and  came 
with  all  possible  haste  to  my  rescue, 
and  with  great  exertion  soon  laid  me 
on  dry  land,  safe  and  sound.  All  the 
boys  in  the  neighborhood  despised  Sam 
Gilford  for  that  trick  until  the  family 
moved  away,  and  a  good  riddance  it 
was.  What  became  of  him,  I  know 
not.  I  wish  my  young  readers,  both 


WILMINGTON  FARMER,  13 

male  and  female,  to  take  warning  by 
this  vicious  boy,  who  was  hated  by  all 
who  knew  him,  and  not  indulge  in  any 
sport  that  may  lead  to  the  disadvantage 
or  unhappiness  of  others.  No  doubt, 
in  this  case,  the  evil  may  be  traced 
back  to  parents  and  grand-parents, 
whose  vicious  indulgence  served  to  en- 
courage rather  than  to  amend  wrong 
propensities. 

My  first  contract  made  for  a  day's 
work,  was  with  Mr.  William  Flint  of 
North  Reading,  for  the  sum  of  6i  cts., 
and  I  received  the  cash  at  night,  return- 
ing home  highly  pleased  with  so  much 
money ;  besides  much  praise  was  given 
me  by  Mr.  Flint,  who  said  I  had 
thrown  half  as  many  stones  into  the 
cart  as  he  had,  the  stones  being  small. 

In  justice  to  Mr.  Joseph  Tapley,  I 
must  say,  my  first  instructions  in  farm- 
ing and  teaming  came  through  his  dis- 
cipline. Sometimes  he  would  give  me 
a  copper  for  cleaning  out  his  cattle, 
and  sometimes  two  for  helping  fill  a 


14  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

load  of  manure,  or  riding  horse  to  plow, 
or  driving  oxen,  which  suited  me  best 
of  all  work. 

He  employed  me  in  spreading,  turn- 
ing and  raking  hay,  hoeing  corn  and 
potatoes,  &c.;  in  short  he  was  always 
ready  to  let  jobs  at  from  one  copper  to 
6J  cts.,  and  we  always  agreed  upon  the 
price  before  commencing  the  job, — a 
rule  that  should  always  be  practiced 
whether  dealing  with  men  or  boys. 

My  mother  was  always  satisfied  with 
the  price  paid.  All  the  neighboring 
boys  liked  to  work  for  him.  He  was  a 
jovial  man,  and  now,  in  after  life,  I 
look  back  upon  him  as  a  great  benefit 
to  boys  in  that  vicinity.  One  morning 
he  said,  "  go  and  ask  your  mother  if 
you  may  go  to  Lynn  with  me  ;  tell  her 
Jerre  is  going."  Mother  gave  her  con- 
sent, and  we  started  with  a  yoke  of 
oxen  and  span  of  horses.  We  went 
two  miles,  where  we  loaded  the  wood, 
we  boys  handing  it  up  to  him. 

As  we  passed  through  Lynn  woods 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  15 

We  saw  three  persons  cross  the  road' 
ahead  completely  dressed  in  white. 
We  boys  were  somewhat  alarmed,  and 
inquiringly  asked  who  they  were?1 
Mr.  T.  saw  our  surprise,  and  answered 
that  they  might  be  white  Indians,  but 
if  we  would  be  good  boys  they  would 
not  hurt  us.  I  am  sorry  I  cannot  in- 
form my  readers  who  they  were,  but  I 
never  saw  their  like  before  or  since. 
As  Mr.  Tapley  turned  round,  after  de- 
livering the  wood,  the  forward  whe.els 
dropped  into  the  gutter  breaking  the 
bolt.  "  Now  boys,"  said  Mr.  Tapley  r 
with  affected  surprise,  "  how  can  you 
ride  home  V 

This  was  a  sad  question  to  us  boys,- 
and  we  began  to  cry,  for  we  were  tired 
and  had  never  been  half  as  far  from 
home  before. 

"  Now  boys,"  said  he,  "  stop  crying 
and  behave  like  men,  and  take  hold 
and  help,  and  I  will  see  if  I  can  fix 
things  so  as  you  may  ride."  We  were 
soon  on  the  way  home,  and  called  at  a 


16  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

tavern  about  half  a  mile  below  where 
Lynnfield  Hotel  now  stands,  and  he 
bought  four  coppers  worth  of  ginger- 
bread, which  was  the  first  food  I  had 
ever  eaten  in  a  tavern.  This  occurred 
between  the  age  of  6  and  7.  Mr.  Tap- 
ley,  as  will  be  inferred,  was  a  man  full 
of  jokes  and  fun,  yet  a  man  of  active 
mind  and  a  benefactor  of  his  race.  It 
was  his  delight  to  set  boys  to  work  and 
teach  them  how  to  do  it.  He  was  great 
grandfather  to  David  D.  Hart,  of  Wo- 
burn. 

When  7  years  of  age,  I  made  a  con^ 
tract  with  Clark  &  Epps,  of  Lyndboro', 
N.  H.,  and  Col.  Flint,  of  North  Read, 
ing,  drovers,  to  drive  their  cattle  and 
sheep  from  our  house  to  Jerre  Upton's 
tavern,  two  miles  distant,  that  they 
might  ride  ahead  and  take  breakfast 
while  the  drove  came  on,  for  four  cop- 
pers each  trip,  which  occurred  weekly. 
Boys,  the  price  may  appear  small,  but 
in  those  days  it  was  a  good  income. 
This  was  continued  for  two  successive 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  17 

.•summers,  the  last  of  which  1  commenc- 
ed going  to  school. 

Miss  Hannah  Sherman,  relative  of 
the  lady  who  gave  me  the  tin  box,  was' 
teacher.  She  had  her  scholars  seated 
on  three  wooden  benches,  so  arranged 
that  she  could  reach  each  one  with  her 
long  willow  stick  without  rising  from 
her  chair.  Jerre  Tapley  was  the  best 
•scholar  in  school.  I  had  commenced 
reading  in  the  New  Testament,  and  the 
old  lady  was  very  urgent  that  I  should 
read  with  him.  This  suited  me  well, 
and  the  teacher,  to  bring  it  about, 
agreed  that  Jerre  and  I  should  occupy 
the  same  seat  in  one  corner  of  the 
room,  and  to  me  was  granted  the  privi- 
lege of  whispering  to  Jerre  to  inquire 
out  the  hard  words.  We  both  studied 
hard,  each  trying  to  excel  the  other. 
^Sometimes  we  would  commit  our  whole 
lesson  to  memory.  When  mother 
would  question  me  at  home,  I  could 
.sometimes  relate  all  I  had  read  during 
the  day,  and  would  ask  her,  "  Has  God 


1  8  LIFE  OF  ASA  fi.  SHELDON  : 

all  power  in  heaven  and  earth  and 
hell?"  She  answered,  "He  has." 
Said  I,  "did  he  always  possess  if?" 
She  said,  "  he  did."  That  night  I 
slept  but  little,  and  the  morning  found 
my  pillow  wet  with  tears.  Distress  of 
mind  followed  me,  and  the  talk  soon 
became  current  that  I  was  growing 
poor  and  should  be  kept  from  school. 
The  lady  who  gave  me  the  tin  box 
came  to  our  house  and  advised  to  that 
course,  saying,  "  he  is  killing  himself 
with  study,"  she  being  highly  interested 
in  my  case.  I  told  them  it  would  do 
no  good  to  stay  from  school,  but  wished 
I  could  go  to  meeting,  which  was  soon 
granted,  and  terrible  appeared  the  ser- 
mon when  the  preacher  gave  it  as  his 
opinion  that  only  one  in  ten  were  saved. 
I  now  felt  worse  than  before,  and 
thought  it  would  have  been  better  had 
I  been  born  a  calf,  or  lamb,  or  almost 
any  other  kind  of  beast,  rather  than  a 
human  being.  My  suffering  was  great, 
— an  awful  week  to  me.  Kverv  one 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  19 

appeared  to  think  that  I  was  about  to 
die,  but  they  knew  not  the  cause  of  my 
trouble.  It  originated  in  reading  the 
life  and  death  of  Jesus  Christ,  for  I 
could  not  see  the  reason  why  God  gave 
his  Son  to  suffer  and  die  for  man,  when 
he  had  all  power  in  heaven  and  earth, 
and  always  had  possessed  that  power. 

The  next  Sabbath  another  minister 
preached,  who  quoted  the  opinion  of 
an  eminent  divine,  "  that  not  more  than 
one  in  a  hundred  would  be  saved." 
The  fact  which  was  here  made  appar- 
ent, that  ministers  disagreed  upon  the 
all-important  subject,  lightened  my  bur- 
den and  made  me  feel  more  at  ease.  In 
conclusion,  I  would  add,  that  it  is  my 
firm  belief  that  God  is  holy,  just  and 
wise ;  that  he  possesses  all  power  in 
heaven  earth  and  hell ;  that  no  one 
ever  interrupted  his  plans,  or  ever  can. 

In  the  Spring  of  1796,  I  was  em- 
ployed by  the  farmers  to  drive  oxen  to 
plough, — a  work  that  always  pleased 


20  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

me, — at  a  shilling  per  day,  which  sup- 
plied me  with  books  and  some  clothing 
with  which  to  attend  school  in  summer 
and  winter. 

The  winter  previous  I  boarded  with 
grandmother  Sheldon,  in  Danvers,  and 
attended  a  school  kept  by  a  Mr.  Felton 
in  a  private  house  near  Rope's  Mill, 
now  known  as  Phelp's  Mill.  I  here 
formed  an  acquaintance  with  three  no- 
ble brothers,  —  Ralph,  Samuel  and 
Lemuel  Crane,  the  last  named  was 
near  my  age,  and  many  a  good  piece  of 
pie  I  received  on  his  account. 

Ralph  died  on  the  loth  of  November, 
1808,  of  nervous  fever.  Lemuel  turn- 
ed his  attention  to  the  sea,  and  on  the 
16th  of  February,  1808,  he  fell  from 
the  masthead  of  the  ship  Belisarius,  of 
;Salem,  commanded  by  Capt.  Benjamin 
Lovctt,  and  was  killed.  Samuel  be- 
came a  highly  respectable  man,  and 
now  resides  in  South  Danvers. 

My  father,  owning  but  few  acres  of 
land,  worked  much  of  the  time  stoning 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  21 

% 

wells  and  cellars,  and  consequently 
was  with  his  family  but  little.  Gener- 
ally working  in  Salem,  we  saw  but  little 
of  him,  except  on  the  Sabbath,  yet  I 
can  distinctly  remember  his  good-natur- 
ed manners.  I  never  knew  him  to 
speak  unkindly  to  me,  and  very  seldom 
to  any  one. 

In  December,  1796,  my  father  pur- 
chased a  lot  of  standing  wood  in  North 
Heading,  and  being  then  in  my  ninth 
year,  I  was  employed,  in  connection 
with  a  man,  to  drive  a  team  with  a  very 
large  yoke  of  cattle  in  dragging  oif  the 
wood,  the  man  driving  another  team. 

Being  very  small  for  my  age,  it  at- 
tracted some  attention  to  see  so  small 
a  boy  beside  a  loaded  team.  It  was 
the  heighth  of  my  ambition  to  become 
a  teamster.  Sometimes  we  turned  our 
teams  across  the  side  of  Putnam's  Mill- 
pond,  for  the  pleasure  of  driving  on  the 
glare  ice.  This  made  fun  for  the  school 
children,  who  could  then  get  a  ride 
without  paying  fare.  The  method  was 


22  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

for  one  or  two  boys  to  take  hold  of  the 
hind  end  of  the  load,  then  a  girl  took 
hold  of  his  clothes,  and  another  hold  of 
hers,  and  so  on,  till  a  long  string  was 
made  out,  oftentimes  two  strings,  as  the 
case  might  be.  At  one  time,  my  com- 
panion laughingly  said  to  me,  "  You 
load  the  oxen  too  heavy  ;"  seeing  a 
beautiful  little  girl  behind,  I  said,  "  No, 
no,  I  will  not  leave  the  hind  end. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  23 


SECOND     LINK. 


We  now  come  to  an  important  period 
in  the  history  of  a  youth, — I  refer  to 
leaving  home.  What  a  privilege  to 
parents  it  is,  to  be  able  to  employ  their 
children  at  home,  and  thus  keep  them 
around  them  under  their  careful  scru- 
tiny ;  and  what  a  blessed  privilege  to 
children  to  live  under  the  care  and 
guidance  of  discreet  parents. 

On  April  14th,  1797,  being  still  in 
my  ninth  year,  Mr.  Daniel  Parker  came 
to  my  father's  house  to  get  a  boy  to  live 
with  him.  Mother  said  he  might  take 
his  choice,  Samuel  or  Asa.  "  I  will 
take  Asa,"  he  said,  "  because  he  is  the 
youngest." 

Accordingly,  my  father  went  over 
with  me.  It  was  a  fine,  sunny  day,  but 


24:  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

there  was  snow  enough  on  the  ground 
to  make  good  sleighing.  We  stopped 
on  our  way  at  Putnam's  saw  mill,  where, 
although  so  late  in  the  Spring,  I  saw 
more  oxen  and  men  engaged  in  draw- 
ing lumber  than  I  ever  saw  there  before 
or  since,  at  one  time. 

I  commenced  my  servitude  here  with 
out  time  or  remuneration  being  stated, 
which,  as  I  before  said,  is  a  circum- 
stance liable  to  produce  difficulty. 

I  found  the  family  to  consist  of  Mr. 
Parker,  who  was  about  40  years  of  age, 
and  wife,  of  nearly  the  same  age  ;  Da- 
vid, about  18,  and  two  daughters,  Patty 
and  Sally,  who  were  a  few  years  young- 
er. Mrs.  Parker  told  me  to  call  her 
"mother,"  and  certainly  she  acted  the 
part  of  a  mother  to  me-  She  fed  me 
when  hungry ;  dried  my  clothes  when 
wet ;  cared  for  my  every  want ;  and 
when  troubles  assailed,  that  she  could 
not  alleviate,  pitied  and  sympathised 
with  me.  In  short,  she  was  as  kind  as 
my  own  mother. 


WILMINGTON   FAHMER.  25 

On  first  entering  the  house,  [  found 
no  one  at  home  but  Mrs.  Parker  and 
her  two  daughters,  David  being  absent 
at  school.  After  sitting  a  few  minutes, 
she  said,  4<  You  may  go  to  the  barn  and 
see  the  calves."  There  were  six  of 
them,  and  I  employed  the  forenoon  in 
cleaning  the  stalls  and  clearing  up. 
After  dinner  I  went  with  Mr.  Parker 
to  split  oak  butts  into  wheel  spokes. 
Thus  ended  my  first  day's  servitude. 

Mr.  Parker's  parents  were  then  liv- 
ing. Hk  mother,  by  age  or  infirmity, 
had  lost  her  reason,  or,  as  it  is  com- 
monly expressed,  was  crazy.  They 
told  me  that  she  would  not  harm  me, 
so  I  need  not  be  afraid  of  her.  I  well 
remember  her  saying  one  day,  "Asa,  the 
Devil  is  in  me,"  »  Well,"  said  I,  "  if 
he  is,  route  him  out,"  at  the  same  time 
seizing  the  fire  shovel.  She  blowed 
and  coughed  till  tired,  and  seeing  me 
not  frightened,  stopped,  saying,  i;  F 
can't  blow  him  out."  She  reported, 
that  she  never  saw  .a.  bov  of  such  deter* 


26  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

mined  courage  ;  "  he  was  not  afraid  of 
the  Devil  himself,  but  stood  ready  to 
beat  his  brains  out  with  the  fire-shovel." 

Our  Spring  ploughing  that  year  was 
done  by  four  oxen  and  a  horse,  and  it 
was  my  constant  business  to  drive  them. 
In  hoeing,  the  plan  was  for  me  to  take 
every  alternate  hill  and  follow  back  on 
the  same  row,  thus  keeping  alongside 
the  men..  The  Summer  passed  pleas- 
antly away,  —  my  young  head  filled 
with  a  lively  interest  in  everything  that 
transpired  on  the  farm.  I  had  become 
quite  attached  to  my  new*  mother  and 
Mr.  Parker  seemed  quite  a  middling 
man  to  get  along  with. 

I  had  the  privilege  of  attending  whi- 
ter school,  and  as  is  common  for  youth, 
formed  a  lasting  attachment  to  a  school- 
mate—  Daniel  Putnam,  a  boy  nearly 
my  size  and  age,  but  of  whom  it  might 
be  said,  as  of  Nathaniel  of  old,  "an 
Israelite  indeed,  in  whom  is  no  guile." 
We  occupied  the  same  seat,  and  one 
day  the  teacher  detected  Daniel  whis- 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  27 

Bering  to  me,  contrary  to  known  laws. 
Of  course  Dan  was  called  to  the  floor, 
and  seeing  the  teacher  about  to  ferule 
him,  I  sprang  from  my  seat,  hastened 
forward,  and  holding  out  my  hand,  cried 
out,  "  punish  me,  I  am  more  to  blame 
than  he  ;  I  whispered  first." 

"  Was  you  ever  punished  at  school  V 
said  the  teacher. 

"  No,  sir,"  I  answered. 

"  Was  you  ever,  Daniel?" 

"  Xo,  sir." 

"  Then,"  said  he,  in  an  authoritative? 
tone,  "go  to  your  seats." 

—  The  second  year,  in  hoeing  time, 
I  was  able  to  keep  up  with  the  hands,, 
anless  the  ground  was  very  tough- 
This  pleased  Mr.  Parker  as  there  was> 
much  hoeing  to  be  done,  and  the  crops, 
were  extensive. 

My  father  needing  a  cow,  he  agreed 
with  Mr.  P.  to  take  one  for  $22,  and  I 
was  to  work  for  him  another  year,  or 
till  the  next  May,  to  pay  for  her,  and 
I  was  to  have  winter  schooling. 


'28  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

Mr.  P.  appears  to  have  been  exceed- 
ingly miserly,  and  was  unwilling  to 
let  me  slide  on  the  ice,  because  it  wore 
my  shoes  out;  but  thanks  to  mother 
Parker's  adroit  management,  I  found 
frequent  opportunities  to  enjoy  an  hour 
of  glee  on  the  ponds.  For  that  and 
many  other  secret  favors,  I  have  reason 
to  respect  her  memory. 

—  At  the  commencement  of  my  third 
year,  Mr.  P.  frequently  urged  that  I 
should  be  bound  to  him,  telling  my 
father  that  he  would  give  him  $20  in 
cash,  and  me  $100  on  becoming  twen- 
ty-one. To  this  my  'father  agreed,  and 
the  necessary  documents  were  signed 
without  mother's  knowledge.  Great 
was  her  anguish  on  learning  that  her 
son  was  a  "  bond  slave,"  as  she  was 
pleased  to  call  it. 

Oh,  fathers,  never  be  guilty  of  such 
a  rash  act.  Never  bind  your  children 
to  service  of  any  kind,  and  above  all 
without  the  consent  of  her  who  would 
willingly  labor  day  and  night ;  yea,  and 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  29 

suffer  many  privations  to  benefit  her 
offspring. 

I  am  glad  that  this  inhuman  practice 
has  passed  away.  Depend  upon  it,  this 
generation  is  not  good  enough  to  deal 
in  such  a  relic  of  barbarism. 

—  I  now  come  to  speak  of  my  fourth 
year  of  service.  There  was  110  snow 
for  sledding  till  February  or  March, 
when  a  nice  fall  of  snow  coming,  creat- 
ed an  ambition  in  me  to  drive  a  load  of 
wood  to  Salem  town  and  sell  it.  I  had 
frequently  driven  wood  to  market  in 
company  Avith  Mr.  Parker,  each  of  us 
driving  a  load.  Mr.  P., 'Dave  and  my- 
self, were  engaged  at  Putnam's  Mill  all 
day.  It  was  late  at  night  when  they 
retired. 

In  my  thirteenth  year,  full  of  ambi- 
tion, I  unloaded  a  sled-load  of  boards. 
— -they  were  heavT,  hard  pine  boards, 
22  feet  in  length, — and  re-loaded  it 
with  pine  wood.  It  was  now  midnight, 
and  I  sought  my  accustomed  couch, 
but  tied  my  shoes  so  tight  as  to  prevent 


30  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON: 

quiet  rest,  and  after  an  hour  and  a  half's 
repose  I  rose  and  fed  the  team.  Then 
going  to  Mr.  P.  the  following  dialogue 
took  place  : 

"  Can  I  take  a  load  of  wood  to  Salem 
to-day  ?" 

"  Asa,  it  seems  as  if  you  would  tease 
the  life  out  of  me ;  did  I  not  tell  you 
there  was  none  loaded." 

"  But  there  is  a  load  loaded." 

"Who  loaded  it?" 

"  I  loaded  it,"  said  I. 

"  Yes,  you  may  go  if  you  have  got 
the  wood  loaded.  You  may  unload  it 
at  Johnson's,  where  we  get  store  goods, 
I  have  promised  it  to  him." 

A  dash  of  disappointment  flashed 
over  me,  for  I  longed  to  dispose  of  the 
wood  myself.  A  pleasant  trip  brought 
me  into  Salem  at  8  o'clock.  I  found 
Mr.  Johnson  absent,  and  his  clerk 
would  do  nothing  about  it.  Much 
pleased  was  I  at  this  overture,  which 
gave  me  an  opportunity  to  try  my  luck 
at  marketing.  I  was  to  get  from  John- 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  31 

son  $4  for  the  load,  but  had  the  good 
luck  to  sell  it  to  a  man  for  $4  and  one 
shilling.  On  reaching  home,  Mr.  Par- 
ker gave  me  the  shilling,  the  greatest 
present  he  had  ever  made  me.  My 
spending  money  had  before  been  con- 
fined to  6i  cents  per  year.  That  was 
awarded  to  me  at  our  State  Election. 
The  last  year  of  my  living  with  him  he 
gave  me  1*2£  cents.  The  man  who 
bought  the  wood  was  a  baker  by  trade, 
and  proved  a  good  customer  for  years 
afterwards  when  marketing  wood  for 
myself.  The  very  boards  which  I  that 
night  unloaded  solely  myself,  may  now 
be  found  on  the  roof  of  Thomas  Ray- 
nor's  house,  in  North  Reading. 

When  at  Salem  a  baker  agreed  with 
me  for  a  load  of  faggots,  or  twigs 
bound  in  bundles,  for  heating  ov«ns. 
AVith  the  hope  that  Mr.  Parker  would 
give  me  all  the  money  if  I  could  con- 
trive to  make  them  without  taking  his 
time,  I  kept  my  hatchet  in  the  cow 
pasture,  and  when  I  found  the  cows 


32  Lin:  OF  ASA  o.  SHELBON  : 

liuudily  I  could  make  eight  or  ten  bun- 
dles and  then  run  and  catch  up  with 
them.  If  I  did  not  find  them  readily, 
I  made  less,  and  so  on.  AY  hen  the 
load  was  nearly  complete,  Mr.  Parker 
discovered  them,  and  asked,  "  Who 
made  those  faggots  J  " 

"  I  made  them,"  said  I. 

"  When  did  you  make  them,"  said 
he,  "and  what  are  you  going  to  do 
with  them." 

"  Sell  them,"  said  I,  "  they  will 
bring  as  much  as  a  load  of  wood." 

"  You  can't  sell  them  for  anything." 

"  Yes.  I  can,  they  are  promised  now." 

"Well,"  said  he,  "finish  out  the 
load,  now  you  have  begun." 

The  day  we  finished  haying,  Mr. 
Parker  said,  "  if  you  are  going  down 
with  that  load  of  faggots,  you  had  bet- 
ter do  it  before  we  take  the  hay  rigging 
off." 

Mother  P.  had  told  me,  that  when- 
ever I  sold  them,  if  he  offered  me  less 
than  a  dollar,  not  to  take  it.  I  drove 


\VII.MINI;TOX  PARMKR.  33 

the  load  to  Salem,  and  brought  home 
$5.80,  and  gave  it  to  Mr.  Parker,  and 
he  was  niggar&y  enough  to  offer  me 
cents  for  all  my  labor,  hurry  and 


toil.  Mother  P.,  seeing  me  about  to 
take  it.  gave  a  stamp  with  her  foot, 
when  the  ninepencc  dropped  on.  the 
floor,  and  I  hastened  out  of  the  house. 
Soon  after.  Mother  P.  went  to  Salem 
herself  and  brought  home  a  nice  hat 
for  me.  that  cost  $3.  There  was  but 
one  other  hat  worn  in  town  that  was  so 
nice,  and  that  was  owned  by  George, 
now  Esquire.  Flint,  of  North  Reading. 
On  presenting  it  she  said,  "  There, 
Asa.  that  will  do  you  more  good  than 
nincpeiicc." 

Polly  Parker  had  been  married  to 
Thomas  llaynor,  and  resided  one  year 
at  South  Reading.  They  then  remov- 
ed to  our  house  to  share  in  the  profits 
of  the  farm,  —  -Mr.  Parker  cultivating 
both  his  own  and  his  father's  farm. 
It  appears  from  circumstances  that  Mr, 
Parker,  at  the  time  of  his  marriage. 


34  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

thought  Tom  Raynor  was  heir  to  an 
estate  ;  but  such  not  being  the  case,  he 
Deemed  to  look  indignantly  upon  his 
*on-in-law,  and  nothing  suited  that  he 
laid  his  hands  upon. 

We  all  lived  in  one  family,  the  men 
jointly  sharing  the  profits  of  the  farms. 
Mr.  Parker  had  0ne  half,  Dave  and 
Tom  each  one  fourth.  I  have  known 
them  to  divide  $1200  at  the  end  of  the 
year. 

The  first  time  I  ever  came  to  Wil- 
mington, was  with  a  team  loaded  with 
hops,  which  I  sold  to  Colonel  William 
Blanchard  for  42  cents  per  lb.,  amount- 
ing to  $800. 

—  Now  commenced  my  fifth  year. 
In  passing  down  one  side  the  hay-field, 
one  day,  where  Parker  and  Raynor 
were  turning  hay,  I  heard  Parker  shout 
to  Raynor,  "  Why  don't  you  turn  that 
hay  with  the  head  of  your  rake  ? " 
Parker,  receiving  no  answer  or  not  be- 
ing heard,  shouted  again  in  an  angry 
tone,  "  if  you  can't  turn  the  hay  as  I 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  35 

want  you  to,  go  home  to  dinner,  and  I 
will  turn  it  ? "  Raynor  still  not  ap- 
pearing to  hear,  and  continuing  to  ply 
the  stale  of  his  rake,  the  old  fellow  ran 
upon  him  with  his  rake,  and  levelling 
a  blow  on  his  temple  brought  him  to 
the  ground.  He  fell  as  quick  as  ever 
an  ox  fell  in  a  slaughter  house. 

I  was  frightened  almost  out  of  my 
senses,  and  ran  toward  them  as  fast  as 
my  legs  would  carry  me.  However, 
Raynor  sprang  up,  and  with  rake  in. 
hand,  exclaimed,  "Stand  off;  I  was 
never  made  to  fear  a  fall  of  clay." 
They  both  appeared  at  the  dinner  table 
that  day  and  ate  without  exchanging  a, 
word.  From  that  time  till  the  close  of 
the  year,  they  never  spoke  a  word  to 
each  other,  except  when  so  filled  with 
anger  that  they  could  not  help  spitting 
it  out,  yet  they  constantly  ate  and  work- 
ed together-  Parker  always  called  Ray- 
nor  a  bad  tempered  man ;  but  I  knew 
them  both  well,  and  Raynor  had  not 
half  so  bad  a  temper  as  Parker  himself. 


.'{G  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  .' 

Strange  as  it  may  seem,  I  was  daily 
called  to  act  as  interpreter  between 
them.  Oftentimes  when  sitting  by  the 
fire,  Parker  would  tell  me  what  to  say 
to  llaynor,  and  he  in  return  would  tell 
me  what  to  answer  back.  Sometimes 
the  case  would  require  quite  a  number 
of  messages,  and  all  this  while  they 
were  sitting  nearer  to  each  other  than 
I  was  to  either  of  them.  This  curious 
telegraphing  was  sometimes  carried  on 
at  table,  especially  Avhen  farm  opera- 
tions required  each  to  know  the  other's 
mind.  At  such  times  one  would  not 
notice  what  the  other  said  until  I  re- 
peated it. 

To  my  readers  this  may  appear  very 
strange  and  almost  beyond  credence, 
but  it  is  a  simple  fact ;  and  certain  am 
I,  that  if  I  had  not  personally  known 
the  man,  I  could  never  have  believed 
the  one  half  I  now  know  to  be  true: 
He  was  a  man  whose  iron  will  com- 
pletely blockaded  every  port  of  his  en- 
joyment. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  37 

In  the  Spring  of  the  year,  it  was 
Mr.  Parker's  practice  to  give  me  a  stint 
stripping  hop  poles.  Hop  raisers,  and 
perhaps  others,  will  understand  that 
process.  This,  he  said,  was  to  give 
me  a  chance  to  supply  myself  with 
spending  money.  I  was  grateful  for 
the  benefit,  and  am  bound  to  say  in  his 
praise  that  he  never  gave  a  hard  stint. 
At  evening  I  was  sometimes  aided  by 
neighboring  boys,  when  a  bonfire  of  the 
dried  vines  wrould  increase  the  hilarity. 

Once  upon  a  time  in  April,  the  snow 
falling  fast,  Mr.  Parker  came  to  me  and 
said,  "  if  you  will  leave  vine  stripping 
and  go  and  get  the  sheep  up.  I  will  pay 
you  for  it."  I  did,  and  found  a  wee 
little  lamb  dropped  in  the  snow.  Tak- 
ing off  my  frock  I  wrapped  it  up  and 
conveyed  it  home.  t;  Now  Asa,"  said 
Mr.  Parker,  "  if  you  will  make  that 
lamb  live,  you  may  have  it  to  pay  for 
going  after  the  sheep,  and  all  the  ewe 
lambs  she  has  I  will  keep  for  you  for 
their  wool,  and  the  male  lambs  vou  imiv 


38  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON: 

sell  to  the  butchers."  All  night  I 
watched  the  wee  bit  and  in  the  morn- 
ing it  was  able  to  draw  its  own  "rations" 
from  its  dam. 

The  coming  season  I  exchanged  my 
lamb  for  an  older  sheep,  which  brought 
me  the  next  spring  two  fine  ram  lambs 
that  were  destined  to  the  slaughter. 
However,  my  stock  of  sheep  increased 
to  five  before  I  left  the  place,  which  I 
sold,  receiving  $10  for  them. 

It  is  but  just  to  say  in  this  place,  that 
I  made  Mr.  Parker  my  Savings  Bank, 
putting  all  my  little  overplus  in  his 
keeping,  and  he  giving  me  a  new  note 
every  year,  carefully  reckoning  com- 
pound interest.  When  I  left  he  was 
owing  me  $3-0-  saved  in  this  manner. 
It  was  not  till  years  afterwards  that  I 
demanded  and  received  it. 

Boys,  here  is  an  incentive  to  lay  by 
your  little  savings.  They  will  amount 
to  something  at  a  time  when  you  need 
them. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER. 


THIRD     LINK. 

Early  in  the  autumn,  the  Frigate- 
Essex  was  to  be  launched.  All  the 
boys  in  the  neighborhood  were  going. 
I  wanted  to  go,  but  Mr.  Parker  said  no.- 
And  it  was  not  till  several  boys  hade 
interceded  with  him  that  he  gave  his- 
consent.  "  Well,"  said  he,  "  if  your 
do  go,  I  will  not  give  you  one  cent  of 
money  to  spend,  for  there  is  no  need  of 
going."  The  boys  said  I  should  fare 
as  well  as  they  did. 

We  started  at  midnight,  eighteen  in- 
all,  and  walked  to  Salem,  saw  the  Es- 
sex leave  "  the  home  of  her  birth," 
and  slide  gently  down  the  greased 
ways,  with  her  precious  cargo  of  curi- 
ous mortals,  anxious  to  catch  the  first 
ride  in  her  as  she  bathed  herself  for. 
the  first  time  in  the  briny  deep. 


40  LIFE  OF  ASA  «.  SHELDON: 

Afterwards  we  walked  about  town 
to  see  the  "  elephant,"  ate  gingerbread 
and  pies,  and  toward  night  set  our 
faces  toward  home.  It  was  a  most 
formidable  journey  for  boys  of  our  age, 
and  before  we  reached  home  our  fa- 
tigue was  such  that  we  lay  down  on 
the  ground  to  rest  every  half  mile. 

Boys,  when  distant  from  home,  be 
cautious  not  to  take  too  much  labor 
upon  yourselves.  Remember  you  have 
got  to  travel  home  into  the  bargain. 
Such  almost  killing  fatigue  mars  the 
pleasure  of  the  otherwise  satisfactory 
excursion. 

In  the  following  story,  I  have  to  ac- 
knowledge the  first  and  only  time  I 
ever  tried  to  plague  Mr.  Parker,  and 
then  I  tried  with  a  right-good  will,  for 
I  was  as  mad  as  a  honey  bee.  He  had 
fallen  in  the  barn  and  hurt  himself 
considerably,  and  had  kept  in  the 
house  for  four  days. 

I  was  going  to  Salem  with  a  load 
of  wood,  and  had  mv  team  all  hitrhed 


WILMINGTON  FARMER,  41 

and  ready,  when  he  called  to  me  to 
get  Rayiior  up  for  the  purpose  of  going 
a  piece  with  me,  as  the  snow  was  deep 
and  drifted. 

"  I  do  not  want  him,"  said  I. 

"  Go  along  and  call  him  quick." 
The  mandate  was  obeyed. 

"  Do  you  want  me,"  said  Raynor. 

"  No,"  said  I. 

"  Then  I  shall  not  get  up." 

"  Is  he  going  to  get  up,"  said  Parker. 

"  He  said  not" 

"  Then  go  and  tell  him  I  say  he 
shall  get  up  and  go  with  you." 

Again  I  ran  and  told  him  what  Par- 
ker said.  He  asked  me,  "  Do  you 
want  me  to  go?  if  you  do,  I  will,  but 
if  you  do  not,  I  shall  not  get  up." 

This  message  was  delivered  verbatim 
to  Parker,  when  he  answered, 

"  Did  you  tell  him  that  you  wanted 
he  should  go  ?  " 

"  No,  sir." 

"Why  didn't  you?" 

"  Because  if  I  did  it  would  be  a  lie  ; 


42  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

and  you  always  told  me  if  I  told  a  lie 
you  would  whip  me,  and  I  do  not  want 
him  or  any  body  else  to  go." 

"  Then,"  shouted  he,  "  run  quick  to 
the  other  barn  and  get  the  white  horse 
and  I  will  go  myself."  And  he  did  go. 

Although  he  had  required  waiting 
upon  for  four  days,  he  was  up  and 
dressed  and  mounted  upon  Old  White, 
that  cold  night,  for  no  other  purpose 
than  to  carry  out  his  iron  will,  formed 
to  discomfort  Raynor  and  get  him  out 
of  bed  that  bitter  night,  —  he  so  hated 
him,  and  in  effect  he  imitated  the  vex- 
ed rattlesnake,  who 

Missing  his  foe,  with  fiendish  spite, 

Coils  up  his  folds,  and  hiw  own  self  will  bite. 

To  be  sure  I  was  any  thing  but  good 
natured,  scampering  away  to  the  other 
barn  for  Old  White,  whose  contrary 
habits  were  well  known,  sincerely  hop- 
ing she  would  manifest  something  of 
the  kind  that  night  and  plunge  her  rid- 
er in  the  snow.  But  I  was  not  to  be 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  43 

gratified  in  that  respect.  Old  White 
was  saddled,  taken  home,  and  a  chair 
brought  out  for  him  to  mount  with,  so 
lame  was  he  from  his  hurt.  He  tried 
to  ride  ahead,  but  could  not  get  on  fast 
enough,  for  when  he  told  me  to  drive 
slower  in  the  drifts,  I  would  use  the 
brad  unsparingly,  making  the  team, 
which  was  a  good  one,  rave  and  spring, 
but  could  not  get  him  unhorsed  with 
all  the  trick  and  tact  I  was  master  of. 
"  You  act  so  much  like  the  devil,"  said 
he,  "  I'll  go  no  further,"  and  turned 
toward  home. 

—  In  the  course  of  my  sixth  year 
Mr.  Parker  began  making  preparations 
for  building  a  new  house.  One  morn- 
ing Dave  and  myself  started  early  for 
the  team,  for  the  purpose  of  drawing 
two  loads  of  lumber  from  Andover. 
All  being  found  except  one  horse,  I 
drove  them  home  while  Dave  searched 
for  the  missing  horse.  Seeing  one 
horse  gone  and  Dave  too,  Mr.  Parker 
cried  out  in  his  accustomed  hoarse, 


44  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDOX  : 

angry  tone,  "  Where  is  the  horse  ? 
Where  is  Dave  ?  Go  and  find  Dave. 
Go  get  the  horse.  Go  bait  the  oxen. 
Why  don't  you  run  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  what  you  mean,"  said 
I,  "  I  never  saw  a  man  act  as  you  do  in 
my  life." 

Having  the  cart-whip  in  his  hand  he 
gave  me  a  heavy  cut  around  my  legs, 
the  knot  in  the  end  of  the  lash  coming 
inside  the  knee  hurt  me  considerably, 

We  started  off  together  toward  the 
;the  pasture. 

"  Why  don't  you  run,"  said  he. 

"If  I  go  as  fast  as  you  do  it  is  fast 
enough,  I  shall  go  no  faster,"  said  I. 
So  we  walked  on  silently  together. 

The  next  morning  found  the  whip 
.chopped  into  inch  pieces,  beside  the 
hog-sty. 

"  Who  did  that  ?  "  said  Parker, 

"  I  did  it,"  said  I ;  "it  was  my  own 
whip,  and  shall  not  keep  a  whip  to  whip 
myself  with." 

This  was  the  first  and  onlv  time  he 


WILMINGTON  FAHMKIJ.  45 

ever  struck  me  while  I  lived  with  him. 
His  course  was  decidedly  a  grief  to 
Mrs.  Parker,  but  it  was  out  of  her  pow- 
er to  prevent  it. 

In  haying  time,  that  well  known  time 
of  hurry  and  bustle,  as  we  came  home 
late  for  dinner  one  day,  we  found  the 
women  had  eaten  and  nothing  remained 
but  some  boiled  Indian  pudding  and 
five  ears  of  boiled  corn.  There  were 
more  ears  of  green  corn  in  the  pot  boil- 
ing. We  soon  cleared  away  the  pud- 
ding, and  Mr.  Parker  taking  three  ears 
and  Raynor  two,  started  for  the  further 
barn  to  throw  off  a  load  of  hay,  saying 
to  me, 

"  Come  along  and  take  away  that 
hay." 

"  Let  him  stop  till  the  corn  is  done," 
said  Mrs.  Parker. 

"  No  come  right  along  now,"  said  he, 
and  on  he  pushed,  eating  as  he  went, 
which  was  his  common  practice. 

I  soon  took  two  ears  of  hot  corn  alter- 
nating them  from  hand  to  hand  and 


46  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

run  after  Raynor  and  overtook  him 
gnawing  his  corn,  and  ran  ahead.  Mr. 
Parker  called  out  from  the  yard, 

"  Get  quick  up  on  to  the  mow  and 
take  away  the  hay." 

I  scrambled  up,  as  the  corn  was  get- 
ting just  cool  enough  to  eat. 

"  Lay  down  your  corn,"  said  he,  "if 
you  can't  eat  your  dinner  while  I  eat 
mine  and  feed  the  hogs,  you  may  go 
without.  You  thought  because  that 
lazy  curse,"  meaning  Raynor,  "  stayed 
behind  you  might." 

I  laid  the  corn  on  the  plate  under  the 
eaves  and  it  lays  there  now  for  aught  I 
know.  "  I  will  have  what  I  want  to 
eat  for  time  to  come,"  said  I,  "  and  if 
you  will  not  let  me  have  it,  I  will  go 
where  I  can  get  it." 

"  Where  will  you  go  ?  "  said  he. 

"  I  will  go  to  Ohio,"  said  I,  "  before 
I  will  live  with  you  another  year,  if 
you  don't  treat  me  better." 

"What  is  that  you  say?"  said  he. 
It  was  repeated. 


WII.MIXGTOX  FARMER.  •        47 

"  Come  right  down  to  me  and  I  will 
whip  you  for  that." 

I  was  on  the  load  by  him  as  soon  as 
my  weight  wrould  fetch  me  there.  He 
seized  my  arm  and  taking  an  alder  stick 
from  the  hay,  said, 

"  Shall  I  strike  you  or  not  ?  " 

"  Just  as  you  have  a  mind  to,"  said  I. 

"  Will  you  ever  say  it  again  ? " 

"  I  can't  help  thinking  so,  and  I  may 
as  well  say  it  as  think  it." 

';  If  you  do  think  it,  you  shan't  say 
it  in  my  hearing."  Here  he  stuck  the 
pitchfork  into  the  mow  and  I  clambered 
on  to  the  top  again,  and  Raynor  who 
had  listened  to  the  whole  came  forward 
to  help  me.  If  he  had  struck  me,  it 
was  my  determination  to  slip  off  the 
hind  end  of  the  load  and  never  work 
for  him  again. 

The  writer  would  fain  hope  that  few 
men,  \vho  have  the  care  of  youth,  man- 
ifest so  much  indifference  to  their  com- 
fort as  not  to  allow  them  time  to  well 
masticate  their  food. 


48       .          LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

A  word  here  on  diet.  In  the  sum- 
mer season,  brown  bread  and  milk  was 
the  constant  food,  for  the  whole  family, 
morning  and  night.  By  brown  bread 
is  meant,  bread  made  of  rye  and  indian 
meal  raised  and  baked  in  large  loaves 
and  in  a  brick  oven,  in  those  days. 
Supper  for  Saturday  was  uniformly 
roast  potatoes  and  salt ;  no  butter  was 
used.  The  whiter  rations  were  beef- 
broth,  with  brown  bread  crumbled  in, 
and  for  change,  bean  porridge.  This 
porridge  was  made  by  boiling  a  piece 
of  pork,  with  a  handful  of  beans,  till 
they  had  become  soft  and  smashed, 
then  dipped  into  dishes  with  bread 
crumbled  in. 

Our  Sunday  dinner  was  invariably 
baked  beans  with  salt  pork,  and  a  bak- 
ed indian  pudding.  A  little  butter  was 
allowed  for  the  pudding. 

Thanksgiving  festival  was  indeed  a 
luxury.  We  commonly  had  fowls  and 
roasted  pork,  or  spare-rib,  and  plum 
puddings,  with  as  many  as  three  kinds 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  49 

of  pies, — mince,  apple  and  pumpkin. 
We  had  as  nice  a  treat  at  Thanksgiv- 
ing then,  as  they  scare  np  now,  and  ate 
it  with  a  greater  zest. 

It  should  be  remembered  that  the 
time  of  which  I  have  been  speaking 
was  more  than  half  a  century  ago. 
Great  changes  have  since  taken  place, 
as  might  be  expected,  both  in  food  and 
dress. 

My  clothes  in  summer  were — straw 
hat,  tow  shirt  and  tow  trowsers.  When 
the  mornings  were  cool,  I  put  on  my 
vest  such  as  it  was,  and  my  frock  if 
required.  I  had  no  shoes  until  the 
ground  began  to  freeze. 

Winter  habiliments  were  —  striped 
blue  and  white  woollen  trowsers,  fulled 
cloth  vest  and  jacket.  They  were  com- 
monly made  of  Parker's  or  Dave's  old 
cast-off  ones,  which  good  mother  Par- 
ker took  care  to  have  well  mended, 
much  to  my  comfort.  I  was  never  al- 
lowed an  overcoat  while  I  lived  there, 
or  a  pair  of  boots.  I  was  allowed  but 


50  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

one  pair  of  shoes  for  two  years.  Par- 
ker used  to  tell  me,  when  going  to  get 
my  foot  measured,  to  put  on  two  pair 
of  stockings,  and  tell  the  shoemaker  to 
be  sure  and  make  them  large  enough 
to  last  two  years. 

The  first  year  I  put  old  flannel,  or 
baize -as- it  was  then  called,  around  my 
feet  to  keep  the  shoes  from  slipping 
and  wearing  out  my  stockings.  When 
they  needed  repairs,  Mr.  Parker  would, 
as  he  kept  shoemaking,  tools  on  hand, 
tap  them  with  old  upper  stuff  and  fill 
them  full  of  nails  to  make  them  last 
well ;  and  mother  Parker  would  make 
me  leggings  from  his  old  stocking  legs. 

At  length  Mr.  Parker's  father  passed 
off  the  stage  ;  the  new  house  was  fin- 
ished ;  Dave  was  married  and  moved 
into  it,  but  Raynor  lived  with  us  still. 
Now  the  battle  raged  wilder  and  hotter 
between  Parker  and  Raynor,  till  at 
length  they  needed  no  interpreter,  but 
were  ready  on  all  occasions  to  vociferate 
hard  words  at  each  other. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  51 

Catching  a  wild  goose  by  hands  must 
be  considered  note-worthy.  One  day 
as  Raynor  and  myself  were  going  to  our 
labor  we  espied  two  wild  geese  in  a  lit- 
tle pond  near  by.  We  went  toward 
the  pond  wanting  to  catch  them,  but 
hardly  expecting  such  an  event,  as  we 
had  no  firearms.  Away  they  flew  and 
we  stood  gazing  after  them.  They 
soon  wheeled  and  came  back,  but  did 
not  drop  fast  enough  to  hit  the  water, 
but  passed  over  and  alighted  in  thick 
bushes  close  beside  where  we  stoody 
each  secreted  behind  a  tree.  As  they 
could  not  arise  for  entanglement,  we 
sprang  upon  them  simultaneously,  each 
catching  one  by  the  neck  and  saving  it. 
We  tied  their  legs  with  some  string, 
which  we  had  in  our  pockets,  when 
luckily  a  man  named  Angier  came 
along  and  took  them  to  his  house  near 
by  for  safe  keeping,  Raynor  paying  him 
50  cents  for  doing  it.  At  night  we  laid 
them  upon  hay  on  the  top  of  our  load 
of  wood  and  carried  them  home  and 


52  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  .' 

put  them  in  a  pen  in  the  hophouse. 
From  discontent,  or  some  other  cause, 
not  one  mouthful  would  they  eat,  and 
we  were  obliged  to  cram  them  with 
corn  to  keep  them  alive.  However, 
Raynor  soon  sold  them  to  a  man  in 
South  Reading  for  $5. 

The  year  the  new  house  was  built, 
all  was  hurry  and  drive, — every  nerve 
must  be  strained  for  labor.  For  in- 
stance, Parker  would  carry  feed  to  his 
hogs  with  part  of  his  dinner  in  his 
hand.  He  made  calculation  to  start 
for  work  with  as  much  in  his  hands  as 
he  could  dispose  of  before  he  reached 
the  field.  A  neighbor,  whose  field  he 
often  crossed,  smilingly  observed,  "  I 
must  prosecute  Parker  for  throwing  his 
bones  into  my  grass." 

To  accelerate  business  and  encour- 
age me,  Mr.  Parker  said,  that  if  I 
would  keep  the  hops,  corn,  and  pota- 
toes well  tended,  after  the  first  hoeing, 
all  the  season,  he  would  give  me  twen- 
ty-five Ibs.  of  hops,  and  I  should  have 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  53 

the  steers  to  help  me,  and  might  plow 
as  well  as  I  pleased.  The  steers  were 
a  fine  pair,  three  years  old,  of  my  own 
training,  and  were 'ox-handy. 

One  day,  in  Parker's  absence,  as  I 
was  plowing  the  potatoe  patch  both 
ways,  Dave  observed  me,  and  halloing 
forbade  the  cross-plowing.  As  I  paid 
no  attention  to  what  he  said,  he  ran  to- 
ward the  field,  which  was  in  island 
form,  then  surrounded  by  mud.  He 
had  been  unwell,  and  on  that  account 
wore  stockings  and  shoes.  While  di- 
vesting his  feet  of  their  incumbrance 
in  order  to  plunge  through  the  mud,  I 
hastened  the  steers  at  a  rapid  rate, 
plowing  only  one  furrow  in  a  row.  Of 
course  he  took  the  team  away  from  me, 
which  greatly  impeded  that  day's  work. 
On  Mr.  Parker's  return  he  discounten- 
anced Dave's  proceedings,  and  said  he 
should  help  me  as  much  as  he  had 
hindered.  I  told  him  my  determina- 
tion to  hoe  every  hill  myself.  On  ex- 
amination he  greatly  approved  my  plan 


54:  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

of  cross-plowing,  as  the  ground  was  of 
a  clammy  nature ;  indeed  the  crops 
bore  unmistakable  testimony  to  the 
utility  of  the  procedure. 

Seven  acres  of  corn,  potatoes  and 
hops,  were  plowed  and  hoed  twice  that 
season  solely  by  me  and  the  steers. 
Many  times,  in  the  gray  dawn  of  the 
morning,  we  might  be  seen  in  the  field 
at  work,  to  evade  the  heat  of  the  day. 
This  practice  of  early  rising,  in  hot 
weather  especially,  I  wish  to  recom- 
mend as  the  secret  of  realizing  a  good 
day's  work. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  55 


FOURTH    LINK. 


Hop  picking  came  on,  that  season  of 
hilarity  in  which  boys  and  girls  all  par- 
ticipate. We  were  stripping  them  off 
full  of  glee,  not  one  reaching  out  his 
hand  in  vain.  Mr.  Parker  rode  to  '"Wil- 
mington to  inquire  the  prospects  of  the 
hop  market,  and  on  his  return  said  Col. 
Blanchard  offered  him  25  cents  per  Ib. 

"  Why  didn't  you  take  it,"  said  I. 

"  Will  you  take  that  for  yours  ? " 

"  Yes." 

The  money  was  counted  out  straight- 
way, which  was  more  than  I  had  ever 
been  the  owner  of  before.  This  was 
done  at  the  hop  bin.  He  cheerily  said, 
"  now  we  shall  see  which  has  the  best 
luck  selling  hops,  you  or  I."  He  kept 
his  till  the  following  Spring,  in  hope 


56  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

of  obtaining  a  higher  price,  and  then 
sold  them  for  11  cents  per  Ib.  Such  I 
have  often  observed  to  be  the  case  when 
a  fair  price  is  refused. 

Mr.  Parker's  extreme  fretfulness  may 
be  seen  in  the  following  story. 

It  was  mid-winter,  and  new  snow  had 
fallen  to  a  considerable  depth.  In  the 
morning  he  said,  "  When  you  have  fed 
the  cattle,  go  to  shoveling  paths."  I 
did  shovel  all  the  paths  we  usually 
shoveled  after  a  snow  storm.  I  then 
inquired  where  he  was.  The  women 
said  he  had  gone  in  the  direction  of 
the  watering  place,  about  half  a  mile 
distant.  I  followed,  and  when  I  came 
up  with  him,  he  said,  "  Why  didn't 
you  come  along  to  shoveling  here  ?  " 

"  I  didn't  know  there  was  anything 
to  be  done  here ;  we  never  shoveled 
here  before." 

"  You  might  know  the  snow  would 
drift  in  here,  now  the  trees  are  cut 
away,"  said  he. 

After  a  few  minutes'  work,  he  said, 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  57 

"  Go  let  out  the  cattle,  and  drive  them 
down  to  drink  ;  start  on  the  cows  first." 

I  knew  this  order  to  be  wrong,  but 
it  was  implicitly  obeyed,  and  when  they 
came  into  deep  snow,  the  oxen  pressed 
on  to  the  annoyance  of  the  cows,  which 
made  him  exclaim,  in  wrath,  "  run 
ahead  and  stop  that  ox." 

I  had  just  exchanged  my  whip  for 
his  shovel,  so  I  ran,  shovel  in  hand, 
and  called  "whoa"  to  the  ox,  who 
was  wont  to  stop  at  my  bidding. 

"What  do  you  say  'whoa'  to  that. 
ox  for  ?  "  was  his  tart  response. 

"  What  a  plague  ;  can  I  say  anything 
but  '  whoa '  to  an  ox  when  I  want  to 
stop  him  ? " 

"  You  shant  say  '  plague '  to  me," 
said  he,  and  ran  at  me  with  all  his 
might,  whip  in  hand. 

I  could  not  make  much  headway  for 
the  deep  snow,  and  so  turning  round 
said,  *'  Don't  break  the  whip-stick ;  I 
paid  eleven  cents  for  it ; "  when  he  de- 
sisted. 


58  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELD'ON  : 

Before  we  reached  the  house  he  met 
a  neighbor,  to  whom  he  said,  "Asa 
cares  more  for  his  whip  than  for  his 
back,  for  when  I  was  going  to  strike 
him,  he  said,  '  Don't  break  the  whip,' 
and  I  could  not  help  laughing." 

It  was  my  aim,  when  he  was  in  a 
pet,  to  make  him  laugh,  if  he  had  not 
got  beyond  the  bounds  of  forbearance. 

This  Spring, -Raynor  left  and  hired 
out  to  a  man  who  tilled  the  farm  lying 
between  Mr.  Parker's  two  farms.  I 
was  commanded  not  to  speak  to  him, 
which  command  I  did  not  fully  obey, 
as  I  was  a  staunch  American,  and  un- 
willing to  give  up  the  right  of  free 
speech.  Dave  and  his  father  still 
worked  together. 

Now  as  Dave  and  Raynor  were  gone, 
I  was  left  alone  to  stand  all  the  shots, 
— rifle,  canister,  grape  and  shell ;  and 
they  fell  thick  and  fast.  Sometimes  I 
thought  it  impossible  to  stay  longer 
with  him.  But  good  mother  Parker's 
sympathy  and  kind  words  did  much  to 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  59 

soften  and  heal  the  wounds,  and  I 
would  conclude  to  await  another  broad- 
side. 

Soon  after  Raynor  left,  a  traveller 
came  along,  and  Dave  took  him  in. 
He  was  a  man  of  middle  age.  We 
never  knew  where  he  canie  from;  if 
asked  the  question,  he  would  not  ans- 
wer, but  change  the  topic  of  conversa- 
tion. He  was  no  epicure,  but  would 
eat  whatever  was  set  before  him.  He 
slept  in  an  attic  chamber,  with  his  door 
fastened.  He  was  deranged  in  mind, 
and  like  other  maniacs,  when  most 
crazy,  would  manifest  a  terrible  tem- 
per. His  name  was  Jeremiah  Powers, 
and  he  could  do  a  great  amount  of 
work,  such  as  forking  manure,  hoeing, 
pitching  hay,  grain,  &c ;  in  doing  any 
of  these  things,  no  man  could  beat 
him.  He  was  exceedingly  withy  and 
spry.  I  have  seen  him  stand  with 
both  feet  together,  and  jump  twelve 
#eet  ahead  at  a  leap.  Few  men  can  do 
that. 


60  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

In  his  worst  spells,  he  would  receive 
no  directions  about  the  work  from  any 
one  except  me,  and  would  frequently 
urge  me  to  join  him  to  kill  Parker  and 
Dave,  for  he  had  a  lunatic  idea  that  if 
they  were  killed  we  could  do  as  we 
pleased  with  the  farm  and  stock. 

Once  on  going  into  Dave's  house,  I 
found  him  sitting  on  a  block  in  the 
corner,  pale  with  terror,  while  Powers 
was  standing  over  him,  axe  in  hand, 
telling  him  if  he  moved  he  would  split 
his  brains  out.  And  I  believe  he 
would  have  done  so. 

"  Captain,"  said  I,  for  we  were  used 
to  calling  him  by  that  title,  "  what  are 
you  going  to  do  with  Dave  \  " 

"  Kill  this  old  d — d  regular,"  said 
he,  "  and  take  off  his  scalp." 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  with  it  ?  " 

"  Sell  it,"  said  he. 

"  You  can't  get  one  cent  for  it ;  be- 
sides we  want  him  to  help  get  our  hay 
in  ;  he  is  a  good  mower  you  know." 

He   turned  away   with  a  demoniac 


WILMINGTON   FARMER.  61 

laugh,  and  Dave  was  relieved  from  his 
terror-stricken  embarrassment.  I  must 
confess  I  was  frightened  myself,  but  I 
made  shift  not  to  let  Powers  know  it. 
"  Asa,"  said  he,  "  you  are  always  right ; 
I  will  let  him  go  now." 

He  had  a  notion  if  any  one  hawked 
or  spit,  &c.,  they  were  mocking  him. 
If  a  cock  crowed  within  his  reach,  he 
would  cut  his  head  off  if  he  could. 
Often  while  we  were  hoeing,  the  fowls 
would  come  round  picking  up  worms, 
and  he  killed  several  in  that  way,  when 
I  would  carry  them  into  the  house  and 
have  them  cooked.  As  he  was  one 
day  pitching  hay,  the  horse,  which  was 
tied  by  a  rope  at  the  door,  snuffed. 
Powers  told  her  if  she  did  it  again  he 
would  let  her  guts  out.  The  snuffing 
was  immediately  repeated,  \vhen  Pow- 
ers sprang  to  the  ground,  pitchfork  in 
hand.  I  screamed  out,  "  don't  kill  her, 
we  want  her  to  go  fishing  with,  we 
can't  go  on  foot."  He  stopped  short, 
saying, 


62  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

"  You  are  always  right ;  I  will  let 
her  live." 

Another  time  he  insisted  that  we 
must  have  our  stints.  Accordingly 
Parker  gave  us  a  certain  amount  of 
plowing  and  hoeing  for  that  and  the 
following  day.  The  plowing  was  done 
in  the  afternoon,  which  was  followed 
by  a  bright,  moonlight  night.  Powers 
hoed  alone  all  night,  and  the  morning 
found  the  work  completed.  "  Now," 
said  he,  "  you  are  my  man  to-day ;,  you 
shall  do  nothing  for  anybody  else." 
He  soon  decided  to  go  fishing.  We 
had  two  hooks,  and  I  bated  them  with 
angle-worms  while  he  fished.  It  was 
a  day  of  great  sport  to  him,  and  I  en- 
joyed seeing  his  cup  of  happiness  so 
full.  We  carried  home  a  mess  of  fish 
to  cook. 

Powers  was  uniformly  good  to  me, 
but  in  no  wise  would  I  suffer  a  son  of 
mine  to  work  with  such  an  unfortunate. 
I  believe  it  may  always  be  found  true, 
that  lunatics  have  some  one  to  doat 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  63' 

upon.  It  is  unquestionably  better  for 
them  to  be  constantly  employed  in  out- 
door labor;  still  they  should  be  care- 
fully watched,  for  there  is  no  telling  the 
moment  when  they  may  commit  depre- 
dations. 

Parker  grew  more  and  more  unrea- 
sonable, but  mother  Parker's  faculty  of 
smoothing  over  things  seemed  to  in- 
crease. 

Baynorls  wife  and  children  lived  in 
our  family,  and  he  came  home  at  night, 
which  enraged  Parker,  especially  if  he 
found  we  spoke  together.  One  morn- 
ing, as  I  entered  the  house  with  a  hand- 
ful of  wood,  I  met  liaynor  at  the  door ;, 
we  stopped  and  spoke.  As  Parker  was 
coming  out,  he  no  doubt  heard  it.  We 
soon  went  to  unloading  wood  at  the 
door ;  he  was  full  of  spite  and  many 
angry  words  found  utterance.  I  told 
him  at  length  I  would  leave  him..  He 
then  caught  a  sled-stake  and  ran  at  me, 
but  being  smarter  than  he  I  ran  out  of 
his  way.  Mother  Parker  from  the  win- 


64  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

dow,  seeing  him  seize  the  stake,  was 
struck  with  consternation  lest  he  would 
injure  me.  However  I  stopped  at 
speaking  distance,  and  he  told  me  to  go 
to  cutting  brush,  and  said  I  should  not 
drive  the  team  any  more,  he  would  drive 
it  himself.  This  was  done  with  a  view  to 
plague  me,  because  I  loved  teaming  so 
well. 

I  did  not  go  to  cutting  brush  as  he 
said,  but  walked  over  to  Dave's,  musing 
as  I  went  on  what  I  had  best  do.  I 
told  him  my  purpose  of  going  away. 
He  said,  "  you  had  better  go  to  cut- 
ting fagots,"  which  I  did. 

I  would  here  say,  my  operation  of 
cutting  fagots,  to  procure  a  little  pocket- 
money,  proved  a  rod  for  my  own  back. 
All  my  spare  hours,  rainy  days,  &c., 
were  necessarily  filled  up  with  fagot- 
making.  The  last  three  months  I  lived 
with  him,  I  carried  home  to  him  $72 
taken  for  fagots,  all  of  my  own  making. 

I  soon  stopped  my  work  and  return- 
ed to  the  house.  I  told  Mrs.  Parker  I 


AVILMYXGTO&  FARMER.  G"5 

was  going  to  leave.  She  wept  and  said, 
"  No,  you  must  not  go,  I  will  try  and 
get  him  to  treat  you  better." 

"It  is  of  no  use,"  said  I,  "  l^mve 
tried  that  long  enough.  I  don't  want 
to  stay  here  to  have  my  forains^beat  out." 

"I  do  not  blame  yo«V'  -said  she, 
but  had  rather  yo-u  would  not  take  your 
clothes.  You  shall  eventually  have 
them,  but  as  he  -said  you  should  not 
take  them,  I  had  rather  you  would  not 
take  them  now." 

"  Goed-bye, — "  good-bye," — was  al- 
ternated, and  I  was  off  on  the  road  to- 
ward my  own  mother's. 

I -should  have  mentioned  in  connec- 
tion with  Parker's  threatening  with  a 
sted-stake,  that  when  I  told  him  I  would 
go  away  he  said,  "  you  cannot  go  ;  you 
are  bound  to  me,  aoad  can't  get  away." 

•"  No,~"  said  I,  "  not  so.  I  have  been 
informed  that,  as  father,  who  bound  me 
here,  is  dead,  you  cannot  hold  ;me  now 
I  am  fifteen." 

"  Who  told  you  that,"  said  he.     I  did 


66  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

not  answer  that  question.  He  had  evi- 
dently been  more  tyrannical  since  I 
was  bound. 

This  story  shows  what  a  prominent 
part  a  woman  can  take  in  smoothing 
her  rough-hewn  husband's  path.  A 
good  wife  like  a  good  missionary,  is 
self-sacrificing,  always  intent  on  the 
welfare  of  others. 

Not  more  than  three  days  had  elapsed 
before  Parker  came  to  mother's  for  me 
to  go  back,  stop  a  few  weeks  and  then 
tell  people  that  we  had  come  to  an 
agreement  to  dissolve,  saying  that  then 
I  should  have  my  clothes  and  my  sheep. 
He  was  good-natured,  for  he  had  been 
to  a  lawyer  and  found  he  could  not  hold 
me,  as  I  said.  » 

I  was  then  fifteen  years  and  five 
months  old.  I  went  back  with  him 
and  whenever  an  opportunity  offered  he 
would  urge  me  to  agree  to  stay  three 
years  with  him  ;  promising  to  find  all 
my  clothes,  let  me  go  to  school  one 
month  each  winter,  and  at  the  expira- 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  67 

tion  of    the    time   to   give   me   $200. 

"  No,"  said  I,  "  I  will  agree  to  stop 
only  on  this  condition,  that  I  will  go 
any  time  I  wish,  and  you  shall  pay  me 
accordingly."  To  this  he  agreed  and 
mother  Parker  witnessed  the  contract. 
I  felt  then  it  was  as  safe  as  if  put  in 
black  arid  white,  and  a  justice  had 
signed  the  acknowledgment.  This  oc- 
curred in  the  spring  of  1804,  and  we 
set  about  raising  eight  calves,  to  pay 
my  wages  when  the  three  years  were 
out,  as  Parker  said.  Soon,  however, 
his  accustomed  fretfulness  got  hold  of 
him  with  renewed  vigor  and  he  dis- 
dained to  give  explicit  orders,  but  want- 
ed explicit  compliance  with  all  his  de- 
sires. 

Our  State  Election,  that  holiday  for 
boys,  when  they  generally  had  two  days 
given  them  for  their  pleasure,  occurred 
on  the  last  Wednesday  in  May.  As  I 
had  but  half  a  day,  I  chose  to  take  the 
last  half  of  the  second  day. 

After  putting  the  cows   in  pasture, 


68  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  ! 

mother  said,  "  Asa,  I  wish  you  would 
hoe  in  the  garden  for  me  this  morning." 
I  complied.  When  Mr.  Parker  came 
from  the  field  his  anger  could  not  be 
restrained  because  I  had  not  been  in 
the  field  at  work.  "  Eat  your  break- 
fast in  one  minute,"  said  he.  I  swal- 
lowed the  bread  and  milk  unceremo- 
niously, till  the  minute  was  out,  and 
then  set  the  bowl  down.  Mother  then 
brought  her  foot  to  the  floor  in  her  ex- 
pressive manner,  saying,  "  Eat  your 
breakfast,  if  you  can't  have  time  to  eat 
your  breakfast  Election  morning  I  will 
leave  the  house."  So  I  finished  it. 

I  should  have  stated  before  that  our 
State  Elections  in  Massachusetts  were 
held  as  festivals  from  time  immemorial. 
At  Mr.  Parker's  we  always  dined  on 
roasted  veal  and  plenty  of  raised  sweet 
cake,  called  Election  cake.  Elections, 
like  Thanksgivings,  were  days  much 
calculated  upon. 

To  my  story  again.  We  worked 
along  as  well  as  could  be  expected, 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  69 

"  bearing  and  forbearing,"  till  July, 
when  it  was  found  out  the  calves  were 
lousey  and  must  be  washed  in  tobacco 
wash  to  cleanse  them.  Toward  night  I 
arranged  to  drive  them  up,  but  it  was 
foggy  and  they  hid  in  the  bushes  and 
vayily  did  I  try  to  collect  them.  Re- 
turning, I  found  all  in  bed,  ate  my 
spoon-victuals  and  retired.  Early  the 
following  morning,  the  bushes  wet  as 
rain,  I  was  out  in  search  of  them,  in 
hopes  to  get  them  home  before  Parker 
was  up,  but  failed  in  that  endeavor. 
He  was  fiendish,  cross  and  surly,  I  saw 
at  once.  "  Eat  your  breakfast,"  said 
he,  "  and  wash  the  calves,  by  the  time 
I  get  mine  done." 

My  bowl  of  breakfast  was  soon  dis- 
patched, and  one  calf  was  finished  ere 
he  came  out. 

"  Turnout  the  calves,"  said  he,  "and 
go  right  to  mowing." 

"  Why,  that  would  be  a  pity,"  said  I, 
"  as  the  wash  is  all  ready  and  they  are 
here." 


70  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

"  Then  do  it  quick,"  said  he,  "  if  you 
do  it  at  all." 

The  eight  calves  were  quickly  and 
faithfully  washed,  and  when  they  were 
turned  into  the  street  to  be  driven  to 
pasture,  he  cried  out, 

"  Let  the  calves  alone,  let  them  go 
where  they  please,  and  you  shall  pay 
for  them  if  they  are  lost." 

"  It  will  take  but  a  few  moments  and 
it  is  a  pity  to  have  them  stray  away," 
said  I.  The  calves  were  put  in  the 
pasture  and  I  hastened  to  the  mow- 
field  where  he  was  mowing,  but  found 
him  cross  as  a  bear.  The  grass  was 
furze  and  hard  to  cut ;  soon  he  stopped 
to  whet  his  scythe,  and  when  done, 
reached  out  his  hand  for  mine.  I  gave 
it.  "  Why  don't  you  take  my  scythe 
and  mow  in  my  swath  while  I  whet 
yours,"  said  he. 

"  Because  it  is  as  much  as  I  can  do 
to  keep  up  with  you,  as  fast  as  you  mow 
this  morning."  This  was  my  first  year 
of  mowing,  and  I  was  not  16  years  old. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  71 

"  You  lazy  dog,  you  have  not  earned 
your  salt  this  fortnight,"  grated  in  my 
cars. 

"  Tis  a  new  thing  to  be  called  lazy," 
said  I,  "  and  if  I  have  not  earned  my 
salt,  you  shall  not  find  it  any  longer. 
I  shall  leave  at  once,  and  would  like 
to  have  you  pay  me  for  the  time  I  have 
worked  for  you,  according  to  agree- 
ment." 

"  No,"  said  he,  "  you  will  probably 
choose  a  guardian  and  I  will  settle  with 
him.  You  may  take  your  clothes." 

When  at  a  little  distance  he  called 
saying,  "  you  shan't  have  your  clothes." 
I  proceeded  to  the  house,  sat  down  on 
the  door-sill,  talked  with  Mrs.  Parker, 
and  heartily  wished,  as  I  had  many 
times  before,  that  circumstances  were 
such  that  I  could  consistently  stay ;  as 
at  that  time  it  was  deemed  disreputable 
for  a  boy  to  change  places  often.  And 
besides  I  had  no  expectation  of  getting 
so  high  wages  any  where .  else,  being 
only  15  years  and  9  months  of  age, 


72  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

having  lived  with  him  7  years,  8  months, 
and  10  days.  Tears  fell.  Soon  Parker 
came  and  seeing  me,  said,  "  If  you  are 
going  to  go,  go — I  don't  want  you  sit- 
ting on  my  door-sill."  I  was  off. 

The  next  day  the  man  who  owned 
the  farm  that  lay  between  Mr.  Parker's 
two,  seeing  me,  offered  me  good  wages 
to  work  for  him,  if  Parker  would  not  be 
mad  about  it.  "  You  had  better  go 
and  see  him,"  said  I.  He  went.  Par- 
ker said  he  did  not  want  me  to  be  idle, 
and  I  might  as  we'll  work  for  him  as 
anybody. 

The  next  Saturday  afternoon  as  Par- 
ker crossed  our  field  he  said,  "  H  you 
will  bring  them  back  at  night,  you  may 
have  your  clothes  to  go  to  meeting  to- 
morrow." The  offer  was  accepted,  and 
the  clothes  returned  according  to  order. 

Thus  things  continued,  always  taking 
my  clothes  back  to  Parker's  every  Sab- 
bath night  and  locking  them  up,  till 
my  three  months'  engagement  to  Mr. 
Stone  was  out.  Parker  then  gave  me 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  73 

my  clothes,  —  the  sheep  I  had  prev- 
iously sold,  —  but  would  not  pay  the 
money.  His  excuse  was,  that  it  was  a 
damage  to  him  to  have  me  go  away,  as 
he  could  not  get  as  much  labor  done  so 
cheaply  in  any  other  way,  and  so  he 
would  not  pay  it. 

I  did  not  consider  it  best  to  com- 
mence a  prosecution  for  so  small  a  sum 
as  $20.  It  is  an  old  maxim,  notwith- 
standing a  good  one,  "  Keep  out  of  the 
law." 

Subsequently,  consulting  Capt.  Dan- 
iel King,  of  Danvers,  in  respect  to  be- 
ing my  guardian,  he  said,  "  you  can  take 
care  of  yourself ;  I  will  give  you  such 
advice  as  you  may  need,  and  when  you 
have  any  money  to  spare,  bring  it  to 
me,  I  will  keep  it  for  you,  and  that 
will  do  as  well  as  a  legalized  guardian." 
I  followed  his  directions,  and  from 
time  to  time  put  small  sums  of  money 
into  his  hands. 


74  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDOX  : 


You  next  find  me  in  a  gentleman's 
family  rn  Salem,  as  their  waiting  man, 
at  $12  per  month.  The  gentleman 
was  sick  up  stairs,  but  his  wife  was 
one* of  the  umvfferabhs.  She  never  al- 
lowed her  maid  to  enter  the  dining 
room  where  she  and'  hei?  son  took  their 
meals. 

I  laid  the  table  and  cleared  k  again, 
and  waited  on  them  while  eating*.  The 
last  thing  set  on  the  table  was  a  bell 
beside  her  plate.  When  eating,  I  must 
sit  in  the  adjoining  room  near  the  door, 
to  await  the  ringing  of  the  bell. 

"  Ting,  ting,  ting ;  bring  a  bottle  of 
wine  from  the  cup-board."  Done,  and 
I  just  seated. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  75 

"  Ting,  ting,  ding,"  again ;  "  pour 
out  a  glass  of  wine  for  me."  Done. 

"  Ting,  ting-a-ling  ding ;  pour  out  a 
glass  for  Edward."  Done. 

"  Ting,  ting,  ting,"  again ;  "  fill  up 
Edward's  glass  full." 

And  so  it  was  from  morn  till  night. 
It  seemed  to  be  her  steadfast  plan  to 
keep  me  always  running ;  and  in  order 
to  fulfill  her  purpose,  she  would  not 
suffer  me  to  bring  more  than  one  thing 
at  a  time,  when  it  could  be  done  just 
as  well  as  not.  For  instance :  She 
wanted  a  half-peck  of  rye  meal,  and 
sent  me  three-fourths  of  a  mile  to  buy 
it.  When  done  she  asked  the  price 
and  gave  me  the  change  all  to  one  cent. 
"  It  wants  one  cent  more,"  said  I,  "that 
piece  will  go  for  only  five  cents." 

"  Do  you  think  I  don't  know  money," 
said  she. 

"  Yes,  and  so  do  I  too." 

The  money  was  carried,  when  the 
man  observed,  "  There  is  one  cent  lack- 
ing, but  no  matter." 


76  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

"  What  did  the  man  say  to  the  mon- 
ey," said  she,  when  I  returned. 

"  He  said,  '  it  lacked  one  cent,  but 
no  matter.' ' 

"  Here,  go  carry  the  cent ;  I  will 
owe  nobody." 

So  here  was  three  times  the  travel 
necessary,  and  more  too,  for  there  was 
plenty  of  rye  meal  for  sale,  of  the  same 
quality,  the  next  door  to  hers. 

These  people  had  a  garden  of  vege- 
tables near  Beverly  Bridge  one  mile 
from  home.  She  one  day  sent  me  for 
three  kinds  of  vegetables,  telling  me  to 
go  three  times  ;  and  also  which  to  bring 
first,  which  second,  and  which  last.  I 
had  learned  a  little  about  favoring  my- 
self, and  brought  them  all  at  once,  leav- 
ing two  kinds  with  a  wood-sawyer  I 
was  acquainted  with,  while  I  carried 
one  kind  home.  I  then  returned,  stop- 
ped awhile,  and  carried  another  kind 
home,  and  lastly  the  other  kind.  This 
was  satisfactory,  because  it  was  not 
known  but  that  I  went  to  the  garden 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  77 

for  the  three  kinds  at  different  times. 

This  kind  of  treatment  too,  was  far 
from  agreeable ;  I  hardly  expected  to 
like  it  when  I  commenced.  The  man 
appeared  well,  as  far  as  he  appeared  at 
all ;  but  that  heartless  woman,  oh  !  that 
heartless  woman !  how  many  times  I 
wished  that  she  might  become  poor, 
and  be  obliged  to  wait  on  herself.  She 
did  die  poor. 

I  gave  notice  that  I  must  leave  in  three 
weeks  from  commencing.  The  man 
urged  me  to  stay,  but  I  was  decided. 

"  If  you  cannot  be  contented  here," 
said  the  woman,  "  you  would  not  be  in 
heaven." 

"  That  depends  on  the  company," 
said  I,  and  cleared  for  deeper  water. 

After  the  gentleman's  recovery  he 
made  an  attempt  to  hire  me  again  into 
his  family.  I  told  him  the  work  did 
not  suit  me,  and  besides  I  would  not 
live  with  his  wife  at  any  price.  I 
would  rather  dig  ditches  for  a  living 
than  work  for  her. 


78  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

I  now  steered  back  to  my  old  neigh- 
borhood in  North  Reading,  and  let 
myself  to  Parson  Stone  through  haying 
and  harvesting,  and  worked  for  board 
in  the  winter  and  attended  school. 

On  vacant  school  days,  I  sometimes 
would  drive  a  load  of  wood  to  Salem 
for  the  Parson,  for  25  cents.  I  well 
remember  buying  cotton  cloth  for  shirts 
for  myself,  at  30  cents  per  yard,  —  five 
cents  more  for  one  yard  than  I  had  for 
a  day's  work ;  and  it  was  called  very 
cheap,  much  cheaper  than  it  had  been. 
This  should  put  those  to  the  blush  who 
now  complain  of  the  present  prices, 
which  are  not  half  so  high. 

I  used  to  think  at  that  time  if  there 
was  as  much  difference  between  hea- 
ven and  hell  as  between  Mr.  Parker's 
and  Parson  Stone's,  there  was  differ- 
ence enough. 

It  was  my  good  fortune,  through  the 
influence  of  Capt.  King,  my  adviser, 
to  hire  out  to  bachelor  Jonathan  King 
of  Banvers.  A  neice  of  his  kept  his 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  79 

house.  They  were  good  people  to  live 
with,  and  had  one  other  hired  hand 
named  Clark. 

Clark  was  a  man  of  intemperate 
habits,  and  when  half  drunk  was  bad 
to  get  along  with.  Once  when  plow- 
ing, because  he  could  not  keep  the 
plow  in  the  furrow,  he  insisted  on  driv- 
ing the  cattle,  but  made  out  no  better. 
He  shifted  the  oxen  from  nigh  to  off, 
and  off  to  nigh  sides  alternately,  but 
to  no  purpose,  and  forced  the  steers  so 
hard  they  split  the  yoke.  King  being 
informed  of  the  case  by  his  neice,  said, 
"Asa,  you  had  bad  work  with  the 
steers,  did  you  ?  " 

"  I  was  not  teamster  to-day,  sir." 

"  Did  I  not  give  you  the  care  of  the 
team  ] " 

"  Yes,  sir,  but  a  stronger  man  than 
I  took  it  from  me." 

"  Well,  you  take  charge  of  the  team 
now,  and  never  give  it  up  for  any  one." 

I  drove  it  ever  afterwards  while  I 
lived  with  him. 


80  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON: 

I  will  here  mention  a  narrow  escape 
which  I  had,  the  effect  of  inebriation. 
A  little  party  of  us  went  out  in  a  boat 
fishing.  Toward  night  a  fog  arose 
that  wholly  obscured  the  horizon,  and 
when  it  came  time  to  row  homeward, 
all  but  me  were  turned  round  and  were 
for  going  out  to  sea.  I  told  them  the 
opposite  direction  was  homeward,  but 
they  would  not  believe  me.  They  had 
carried  New  England  rum  with  them, 
of  which  all  drank  but  me.  Clark,  not 
a  little  tipsy,  caught  me  up  and  would 
have  thrown  me  overboard  had  not  a 
a  friend  seized  him,  and  with  assistance 
threw  him  down  on  the  bottom  of  the 
boat  and  held  him  there.  We  then 
rowed  on  with  all  our  might,  and  when 
some  became  disheartened  I  told  them 
if  we  did  not  hear  a  rapping  on  the 
ship  that  was  building  at  the  shore 
within  half  an  hour,  I  would  give  up 
my  say.  In  less  than  twenty  minutes 
we  heard  the  taps,  and  soon  gained  the 
shore  in  safety. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  81 

Beware,  oh !  beware,  of  intemperate 
companions,  but  more  especially  be- 
ware of  the  intoxicating  cup.  Too 
much  caution  cannot  be  used  in  the  se- 
lection of  associates.  They  should  be 
none  but  those  of  thorough-going  tem- 
perance principles.  The  young  are 
little  aware  of  the  influence  of  com- 
panionships to  lead  insensibly  to  vice 
of  any  and  every  kind.  Strong  drink, 
as  a  beverage,  should  be  held  in  per- 
fect abhorrence.  "  Touch  not,  taste 
not,  handle  not,"  is  the  only  safe  ground 
to  stand  upon. 

My  time  being  expired  at  King's,  I 
was  hired  by  Jesse  Upton  of  North 
Danvers,  tavern-keeper,  for  $13  per 
month  for  one  year. 

King  hired  another  hand  in  my 
stead,  who  was  unwilling  to  work  with 
Clark,  still  he  was  preferred  and  Clark 
paid  off.  Clark  came  to  Upton's  to 
get  me  to  persuade  him  to  hire  him, 
which  I  refused  on  account  of  his  love 
of  strong  drink. 


82  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

Mr.  Upton  had  been  a  prosperous 
man  in  life,  and  had  now  married  a 
second  wife,  who  I  thought  very  com- 
plete and  handsome.  The  men  would 
reply  to  me,  with  a  significant  shake  of 
the  head,  when  I  spoke  of  her,  "  You 
do  not  know  her."  Light  on  that  sub- 
ject soon  began  to  develope,  when  one 
day  we  hesitated  about  starting  off  to 
Salem  with  wrood,  fearing  rain.  On 
my  observing  that  I  would  venture  my- 
self if  he  would  the  team,  it  was  con- 
cluded to  go.  Rain  soon  began  to  fall, 
and  increased  to  a  gale  before  I  reach- 
ed home  at  5  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 
Four  carriages  drove  into  the  yard  for 
shelter  at  the  same  time  that  I  did,  al- 
though not  far  from  their  homes.  Mrs. 
Upton  called  from,  the  house,  "  Asa, 
let  your  team  stand,  and  unharness  and 
take  care  of  those  horses."  Not  hav- 
ing eaten  a  mouthful  since  breakfast, 
and  being  completely  drenched  with 
rain,  I  obeyed  the  summons,  sheltered 
my  team,  and  made  shift  to  get  on  dry 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  83 

clothes  as  soon  as  possible.  Immed- 
iately two  other  carriages  drove  up, 
whom  Hutchinson,  the  waiting  man, 
proceeded  to  wait  upon.  Mrs.  Upton 
seeing  this,  told  him  to  call  me  to  un- 
harness. There  were  six  men  in  the 
barn  husking  corn,  and  I  had  joined 
them,  and  when  he  gave  me  the  order 
I  told  him  the  horses  might  stand  there, 
for  I  should  not  expose  myself  again 
to  rain  that  night. 

So  much  tavern  company  to  eat  first, 
made  it  past  7  o'clock,  before  I  had  a 
mouthful  to  eat.  She  informed  Mr. 
Upton  in  my  hearing  of  these  facts, 
when  he  said,  "  Asa,  you  did  wrong  in 
one  thing,  you  ought  not  to  have  un- 
harnessed the  horses." 

One  circumstance  will  serve  to  show 
the  care  practised  at  that  early  time  in 
life  to  secrete  money.  I  was  sent,  in 
company  with  another  hand,  to  Char- 
lestown  with  two  loads  of  hay.  I  took 
the  pay  for  both  loads,  it  was  in  bills, 
and  amounted  to  $100.  There  had 


84  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

recently  been  a  robbery  perpetrated  in 
Lynn  Woods,  through  which  we  passed. 
On  our  way  home,  I  must  say  that  I 
felt  a  little  anxiety  on  that  account  and 
kept  a  sharp  look-out.  Observing  a 
man  coming  up  to  the  hind  team,  I 
took  the  money  from  my  pocket  and 
put  it  in  the  near  ox's  ear  and  stopped 
the  team,  standing  close  beside  him. 
The  man  came  up,  and  proved  to  be  a 
neighbor  there,  exchanged  a  few  words 
of  civility  and  passed  on.  I  then  took 
the  money  from  its  safe  depository,  say- 
ing to  the  hand  that,  "  I  had  stopped 
to  let  the  oxen  breathe,"  and  started  on. 

Being  17  years  of  age,  I  was  en- 
trusted by  Mr.  Upton  to  go  on  mone- 
tary business  from  town  to  town,  with 
orders  to  put  up  for  the  night,  if  I 
pleased,  much  to  his  apparent  satisfac- 
tion. 

He  left  home  one  day,  giving  me 
orders  to  meet  him  in  Boston  with  a 
load  of  hay,  and  to  bring  fifteen  kegs 
of  pickles.  I  brought  the  kegs  from 


WILMINGTON    FARMER.  85 

the  cellar  and  asked  Hutchinson  to 
hand  them  up  to  me  to  place  on  the 
load.  Just  then  Mrs.  Upton  said, 

"  Can't  you  load  those  pickles  alone  t" 

"  Not  very  well,"  said  I. 

"  Then  you  need  not  carry  them ;" 
and  the  pickles  were  not  taken. 

I  then  opened  my  provision  box,  saw 
nothing  there  that  I  could  eat,  and  left 
it  and  started.  I  drove  all  day  and  all 
night ;  ate  but  little ;  reached  home 
between  daylight  and  sunrise ;  fed  the 
team,  and  turned  into  bed. 

The  next  day,  said  Mrs.  Upton, 
"  Mr.  Upton,  if  our  hired  men  can't 
eat  as  we  do,  when  they  go  on  the  road, 
I  think  it  is  fine  times." 

"  Where  is  that  box  of  provision  ?  " 
said  Mr.  Upton,  "  call  Betty." 

"  Where  is  the  box  of  provision  put 
up  for  Sheldon,  Betty  ;  bring  it  here?" 

"  I  can't  do  it,"  said  she,  "  I  threw 
it  into  the  hog-pail ;  it  was  not  fit  for 
anybody  to  eat." 

"  Mrs.   Upton   how   much  do  your 


86  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

men  usually  spend  on  a  day's  teaming ; 
if  I  have  spent  more  I  will  pay  it  back." 

"I  do  not  know  how  much  they 
spend,"  said  she,  "  but  I  know  how 
much  they  ought  to  spend." 

She  then  took  a  slate  and  carefully 
marked  down  what  the  reasonable  ex- 
penses of  a  day  would  be,  allowing  25 
cents  for  dinner,  &c.y  and  the  amount 
swelled  to  20  cents  more  than  I  laid 
out.  Upton,  who  was  a  whole-souled 
man,  pulled  out  his  purse  quickly  and 
handed  me  the  20  cents  saying,  "  I  will 
pay  that  if  I  never  have  another  cent." 

The  following  story  will  serve  to  show 
how  the  faithful  are  regarded  by  their 
employers,  and  also  how  a  vixen  of  a 
wife  can  mar  and  blast  the  happiness 
and  prosperity  of  her  husband. 

Business  called  Mr.  Upton  away  to 
be  gone  several  weeks.  He  directed 
me  to  take  the  team  to  Londonderry 
and  buy  and  bring  home  two  barrels  of 
sour  cider  for  vinegar  making.  I  was 
to  carry  up  a  load  of  household  goods 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  87 

from  Salem.  It  was  in  the  month  of 
April,  the  distance  was  50  miles,  and 
road  new  to  me  and  muddy.  Nothing' 
note- worthy  occurred  until  I  reached 
Derry  and  came  to  a  tremendous  hill, 
as  it  then  appeared  to  me.  I  stopped 
at  its  base  and  fed  the  cattle  ;  while 
they  were  eating  I  walked  up  the  hill 
to  see  what  the  prospect  was  of  getting 
up  alone.  A  couple  of  boys  were  plow- 
ing with  four  oxen  near  by.  I  inquired 
if  they  would  help  me  up  the  hill. 
They  said  the  team  belonged  to  Gen. 
Reed.  I  must  go  and  ask  himyhe  lived 
ahead.  I  went. 

"  Cant  your  team  take  the  load  up," 
said  he. 

"  Yes,n  said  I,  "  btit  I  do  not  want  to 
put  them  to  the  utmost  of  their  power." 

"  You  may  take  them,"  said  he,  "  for 
I  see  you  are  careful  of  your  cattle." 

I  took  them  along  as  far  as  I  wished. 
When  against  his  house,  I  stopped  the 
team  and  he  came  out  with  a  white 
mug  of  cider. 


88  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

"  Have  you  cider  to  sell,"  said  I. 

"  Yes,  come  down  into  my  cellar  and 
see." 

I  went  and  beheld  200  barrels  in 
one  cellar,  the  greatest  amount  I  ever 
saw,  before  or  since.  I  soon  agreed 
with  him  for  10  barrels  at  $'2  per  bar- 
rel, with  the  barrels,  they  being  new. 
I  went  and  unloaded  the  goods  and  re- 
turned and  stopped  over  night  with  the 
General,  the  next  day  I  set  forward,  and 
had  a  prosperous  journey  home.  I  was 
only  17  years,  6  months  old.  Sold  one 
barrel  in  North  Reading  on  my  way 
home  for  $4,  a  nice  profit. 

Shortly  after,  with  Mrs.  Upton's  con- 
sent, I  took  the  team  and  went  again 
for  10  barrels  more  of  cider,  for  which 
I  had  previously  agreed,  if  I  wished 
to  come  for  it. 

At  this  time  the  old  General  observ- 
ed, "  I  see  you  are  very  careful  of  your 
team,  and  very  cautious  too  in  buying 
for  your  employer,  and  I  should  like 
to  hire  you  to  live  with  me." 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  89 

w  I  am  engaged  for  a  year,"  said  I, 

*'  Then,"  said  he,  "if  you  ever  come 
this  way,  I  should  like  to  have  you  call 
and  .see  me."  A  few  years  afterwards 
I  heard  of  his  death. 

On  reaching  home  I  found  that  Mrs. 
Upton  had  hired  two  men, —  one  large 
man  for  $11  per  month,  and  another 
small  one  for  $19  per  month. 

•"  Asa,"  said  she,  "  how  much  do 
you  have  per  month  ? " 

I  replied,  "  $13." 

"  Oh,  fie,  I  can  hire  men  big  enough 
to  eat  you  up  at  two  meals,  for  $11 ;  so 
I  will  pay  you  off." 

I  took  the  money  and  repaired  im- 
mediately to  good  old  Parson  Stone's. 
Soon  after  Mr.  Upton  came,  and  to  in- 
duce me  to  return,  offered  $15  per 
month  for  a  year. 

"  I  would  not  live  with  yosiir  wife  at 
any  price,"  was  the  decided  answer. 

A  narrow  escape  occurred  while  liv- 
ing with  Parson  Stone,  which  gratitude 
forbids  I  should  omit;  showing  the 


90  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

benefit  of  bleeding  after  a  fall.  Ed- 
ward Stone  and  myself  were  threshing 
rye  in  the  barn.  I  went  on  to  the  high 
scaffold  for  purpose  of  throwing  down 
the  bundles ;  they  were  piled  up  near 
to  the  ridge-pole.  While  standing  on 
one  bundle  the  band  gave  way  and  I 
found  myself  sliding  rapidly  down,  and 
must  be  precipitated  to  the  barn  floor. 
In  falling  I  called  to  Edd  to  catch  me, 
but  a  glance  showed  him  running  away. 
It  is  certainly  astonishing  how  swiftly 
thoughts  will  run  at  such  a  moment  as 
this.  I  thought  if  he  would  just  catch 
hold  of  a  shoulder  or  any  other  part  it 
would  ease  the  fall,  and  I  felt  sorry  to 
see  him  run  away.  As  I  slid  from  the 
broken  bundle  I  came  feet  foremost ;  but 
in  the  descent,  as  kind  Providence  order- 
ed, one  foot  touched  the  edge  of  the 
scaffold  and  tipped  me  broadside,  thus 
breaking  the  force  of  the  fall,  and  I 
came  plump  on  my  side  upon  the  barn 
floor,  my  head  resting  on  a  flat  stone 
used  for  laying  on  a  corner  of  the  win- 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  91 

nowing  sheet.  I  jumped  up  feeling 
no  pain,  sprang  to  the  barn-door  and 
fell.  My  eyesight  left  me,  which  caus- 
ed an  alarm  that  I  should  never  see 
again.  Edd  took  me  on  his  shoulder 
and  conveyed  me  to  the  house. 

"What  is  the  matter  with  Asa?" 
said  the  Parson. 

"  He  fell  from  the  top  of  the  rye  to 
the  barn-floor,"  said  Edd. 

"  Carry  him  in  and  take  care  of  him, 
and  I  will  go  for  the  doctor." 

When  he  arrived,  he  bled  me  in  the 
arm,  and  as  soon. as  the  blood  touched 
the  bowl  my  sight  returned.  The  first 
object  that  greeted  my  joyful  eyes  was 
good  Madam  Stone  holding  the  bowl. 
All  the  while  I  had  sense  enough  to 
know  what  was  going  on,  but  could 
neither  see  nor  speak. 


92  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 


SIXTH    LINK. 


I  remained  with  Parson  Stone  till  the 
death  of  his  son  in  September,  when, 
by  his  request,  I  was  hired  by  his  son's 
Administrator  to  take  charge  of  affairs 
there,  with  orders  to  cut  and  carry  to 
market  wood  enough  to  supply  the  fam- 
ily's wants  and  pay  my  wages.  At  first 
I  boarded  with  the  widow,  till  in  a  few 
months  she  married ;  then  I  boarded 
with  his  first  wife's  mother,  and  a  bet- 
ter woman  to  take  care  of  everything 
and  everybody  could  not  be  found. 

In  April  following,  I  let  myself  to 
Capt.  Daniel  Graves,  Mr.  Stone's  farm 
being  let  and  the  personal  property  sold 
at  auction.  Here  I  had  full  charge  of 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  93 

the  farm  concern,  Mr.  Graves'  son 
working  at  brick-laying  in  Boston.  If 
ever  my  ambition  was  raised,  it  was 
then.  When  the  moon  favored  me 
with  her  light,  my  scythe  was  frequent- 
ly running  in  the  grass  by  3  o'clock  in 
the  morning. 

Capt.  Graves'  father,  who  was  near 
80  years  of  age,  lived  with  him.  When 
he  hired  me,  he  said  he  hoped  I  would 
try  and  please  his  father,  for  the  hired 
hands  were  inclined  to  differ  with  him. 
I  determined  to  keep  the  right  side  of 
him,  if  possible ;  so  when  a  piece  of 
work  was  to  be  done,  I  would  say  to 
him,  "Hadn't  we  better  do  it  in  this 
way  ? "  He  almost  invariably  answer- 
ed, "  Yes  ; "  and  so  well  did  I  succeed 
in  my  attempt  to  please  the  good  old 
gentleman,  that  the  summer  passed 
without  a  discordant  word.  Indeed,  so 
interested  did  he  become  in  all  the  con- 
cerns, and  so  much  assistance  did  he 
afford,  that  I  frequently  pitied  his  fa- 
tigued state.  The  family  were  pleasant 


94  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

and  kind,  and  I  enjoyed  life  well  this 
season. 

In  1807,  I  was  hired  by  Major  Aaron 
Pearson,  and  came  to  Wilmington, 
where  I  soon  made  the  acquaintance 
of  Mr.  Jabez  Go  wing's  family.  There 
I  fonnd  congenial  friends.  I  must  say 
they  seemed  more  like  relatives  than 
any  other  family  known.  Mr.  Gpw- 
ing's  family  name  was  Jaques,  and  like 
others  of  that  name,  was  always  able  to 
impart  information  to  every  listener. 

Mr.  Pearson  owned  a  saw  mill  in 
company  with  two  others,  and  much  of 
my  business  was  lumbering,  a  kind  of 
work  that  suited  me. 

When  about  twenty  years  of  age,  I 
bought  the  said  mill  in  company  with 
John  Nelson.  Nelson  was  anxious  to 
build  a  grist  mill,  and  as  I  refused  to 
go  him  company  in  it,  he  set  it  up  him- 
self. At  length  finding  himself  in  em- 
barrassed circumstances  he  sold  me  the 
whole  concern,  both  saw  and  grist  mill. 
This  was  merely  a  winter  mill,  as  no 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  95 

right  was  given  to  plow  the  land  in 
summer.  I  vividly  remember  the  grist 
mill  was  raised  on  the  day  I  was  21. 

Shortly  after,  on  Nov.  13,  1809,  at 
25  minutes  past  10  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing, by  Nelson's  watch,  an  event  oc- 
curred which  I  shall  never  forget ;  for 
I  shall  carry  indubitable  proofs  of  it  to 
'my  grave.  While  engaged  in  moving 
a  loaded  wagon,  I  fell  under  it,  one 
wheel  passing  over  my  hat,  and  another 
over  my  left  leg,  not  only  breaking,  but 
smashing  it.  Under  the  misguided 
judgment  of  the  oldest  man  in  the 
company,  this  sad  affair  took  place. 
The  bone  was  well  set  by  Frank  Kit- 
tridge  of  this  town. 

The  fact  that  drinking  alcoholic 
spirits  was  universally  practised  at  this 
time,  should  be  kept  in  mind.  This 
custom  will  be  better  understood  by 
reading  the  following  poetry. 


96  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 


*'  How  different  some  customs  are, 

With  mortals  here  below, 
From  what  they  were  when  I  was  young:, 

Some  tilty  years  ago. 

One  could  not  have  a  '  raising; '  then, 

Without  a  keg  of  rum, 
''Twere  of  :.<;  use  to  ask  the  men, 

For  sure  they  would  not  come. 

The  Doctor  would  not  ride  &  mile, 

To  save  a  man  from  dying, 
Until  he  had  a  glass  of  sling, 

And  then  he'd  be  for  trying. 

The  Lawyer  could  not  plead  a  case, 

For  plaintiff  or  defendant, 
Until  he  took  a  glass  of  gin, 

And  then  there 'd  be  no  end  on't. 

The  Minister,  he  could  not  preach, 

Extempore  or  by  note, 
Unless  he  had  a  glass  of  wine 

')'••>  guzzle  down  his  throat. 

fj.ae  could  not  go  to  market  thca, 

However  near  or  handy, 
Without  he  had,  to  help  along;, 

.Some  good  old  Cognac  brandy. 

-One  could  not  mourn  e'en  for  a  Jriend, 

A  friend  however  near, 
Unless  he  had  a  cordial  glass, 
To  prove  himself  sincere. 

The  Sailor  couldn't  sing  a  song, 

The  Yankee  couldn't  whittle, 
With  any  kind  of  grace  at  all, 

Unless  he  had  a  little," 

—Bard  of  Souhegan,  Amherst,  N.  H. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  97 

According  to  custom  I  prepared  my- 
self with  liquor  to  treat  all  who  favored 
me  with  their  company,  and  many  other- 
wise lonesome  hours  were  beguiled  with 
friendly  chat. 

A  week  or  ten  days  after  the  acci- 
dent, as  Dr.  Kittridge  was  dressing  the 
wound,  I  raised  myself  upon  my  elbow 
and  saw  that  he  was  cutting  out  a  bit  of 
flesh  the  size  of  a  quarter  of  a  dollar. 
"  What  are  you  doing,  doctor  ?  "  said  I. 
He  then  run  in  his  probe,  the  marrow 
spouting  up  like  water,  and  said,  "  does 
that  hurt  you  \  " 

"  No ;  if  I  did  not  see  you,  I  should 
not  know  you  touched  it." 

"  O,  I  had  rather  heard  you  scream 
like  murder,"  said  he. 

He  then  bound  up  the  leg,  went  and 
sat  down  by  the  fire  with  elbows  on  his 
knees  and  buried  his  face  in  his  hands 
for  several  minutes. 

With  a  sad  countenance  he  approach- 
ed the  bed  saying,  "  Asa,  I  must  tell 
you  one  thing." 


Sf8  LIFE  OP  ASA  €f.  SHELDON: 

"  Let  me  hear  it,"  said  I. 

"  You  must  have  your  leg*  cut  off,  or 
lose  your  life  within  forty-eight  hours, 
because  mortification  has  set  in  and  it 
can't  be  stopped." 

He  then  left,  was  absent  about  two 
hours,  anoT  returned  with  four  other" 
doctors,  one  being  his  father. 

They  examined  the  leg  and  said  it" 
had  got  so  bad  I  could  not  live  over 
thirty-six  hours,  unless  it  was  amputat- 
ed^    I  told  them--  I  would  not  have  if 
taken  it  off.      If  I  dicd^  I  would  die 
altogether.      They   paid   no  attention 
whatever  to  what  I  said,  but  went  to 
work  and  spread  out  their  instruments- 
on  the  table.     The  sight  of  them  struck 
ine  with  horror  indescribable.     I  felt 
as  though  they  meant  to  dissect  me. 
.     "  Mary,"  said  I,  "  give  me  a  little  of 
that  rum  and  molasses." 

"Shall  I,  doctor?"  said"  she. 

"  Give  him  a  little,"  said  the  doctor. 

"Shall  I  give  him  that,"  said  sher 
showing  the  glass. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  99 

**  Yes,"  said  he,  "  that  will  not  hurt 
liim." 

I  drank  it  and  said,  "  Frank,  come 
fcere." 

He  came  to  my  bedside,  when  I  said, 
"  No  man  shall  cut  my  leg  off  while  I 
kave  my  senses.  If  I  lose  my  senses- 
and  it  is  cut  off,  and  I  can  find  out  who 
did  it,  I  will  shoot  him,  let  him  be  who- 
he  may." 

"  You  are  good  pluck,"  said  he,  "  I'll 
cure  you  if  I  can." 

I  assure  you  that  they  put  up  their 
tools  in  "  short  meter,"  bound  up  the* 
wound  and  all  left  but  the  old  doctor, 
who  like  a  faithful  friend,  as  he  was, 
stuck  by  me  day  and  night.  He  was 
an  old  gentleman  and  very  lame ;  he 
could  not  walk  a  step  without  crutches, 
He  sat  in  an  arm  chair  by  the  bed,  with 
two  young  women  to  wait  upon  him  by 
turns,  —  six  hours  each  by  rotation, 
His  order  to  them  was,  if  he  was  asleep 
to  wake  him  every  fifteen  minutes  y 
when  he  would  apply  something  to  the 


100  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

Wound.  I  often  asked  how  the  case 
came  on,  but  he  always  answered  evas- 
ively. When  the  clock  struck  at  the 
end  of  thirty-six  hours,  he  suddenly 
started  hi  his  chair  and  said,  "  you've 
beat  them.  The  thirty-six  hours  are 
out  and  your  leg  is  better  than  two 
wooden  legs."  He  staid  two  days  long- 
er, but  did  not  dress  the  limb  quite  so 
often.  From  that  time  I  never  failed 
to  give  the  old  man  a  quarter  whenever 
I  met  him.  He  would  say,  "  Hey ! 
boy,  you  remember  that  leg." 

My  mother,  hearing  of  my  misfor- 
tune and  that  it  was  expected  I  should 
lose  my  limb  or  my  life,  came  to  see 
me  with  a  view  to  stop  and  take  care  of 
me.  I  thanked  her,  but  said,  "  Mother, 
I  do  not  want  you ;  I  had  rather  have 
the  prettiest  girl  I  ever  saw,  than  such 
a  long  face." 

At  the  expiration  of  seventeen  weari- 
some days  and  nights,  I  was  helped  off 
my  bed,  but  in  less  than  ten  minutes 
I  was  glad  to  be  helped  back,  where  I 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  101 

lay  seventeen  days  more,  much  against 
my  will. 

Being  partially  recovered,  on  Jan.  18, 
I  rode  horseback  to  Danvers,  where  my 
brother  Elbridge  lived.  I  stopped  with 
him  a  short  time  and  returned  Ijpme- 
ward  to  Capt.  Howard's,  who  married 
sister  Lucinda.  The  day  was  very  un- 
usually warm  for  winter,  and  I  am  sure 
I  never  saw  more  cattle  on  the  road, 
in  one  day,  with  their  tongues  out,  in 
my  life. 

The  next  morning  brought  a  great 
change.  It  was  the  memorable  Janu- 
ary 19th,  1810,  or  "Cold  Friday." 
The  cold  was  intense.  In  several  in- 
stances within  my  knowledge,  people 
perished.  It  was  noted  for  half  a  cen- 
tury by  almanac  makers.  Since  my 
remembrance,  I  have  never  known  so 
sudden  a  change  as  we  experienced  at 
this  time,  although  people  are  often 
saying,  "  The  weather  changes  oftener 
than  it  used  to." 

In  this  connection  a  few  observations 


102  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON-: 

on  the  weather  may  not  be  unimpor- 
tant. You  will  find  that  these  signs 
rarely  fail. 

If  rain  commences  between  daylight 
and  sunrise,  there  will  be  but  little  rain. 
Start  on  your  journey  if  you  are  inclin- 
ed. 

If  rain  commences  between  12  and 
1  o'clock,  or  at  mid-day  or  midnight, 
there  will  be  six  hours  of  rain,  more 
or  less. 

Where  the  wind  is  at  sunset  Candle- 
mas day,  or  February  2d,  there  will  be 
its  home  for  two  months.  It  will  never 
be  away  from  home  more  than  forty- 
eight  hours  at  a  time.  Should  it  be 
North  or  North-west,  look  out  for  cold 
weather. 

Note  the  day  the  first  snow  falls  and 
to  that  add  the  age  of  the  moon  the 
day  that  it  fulls,  and  the  product  will 
be  the  number  of  snows  to  come  that 
year.  For  example,  if  the  first  snow 
falls  the  tenth  day  of  the  month  and  the 
moon  is  fifteen  days  old,  add  ten  to  fif- 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  1 03 

teen,  and  you  have  the  number  of  snow 
-storms  for  that  year. 

When  a  halo,  or  circle,  around  the 
moon  is  seen,  if  one  bright  stars  ap- 
pears in  the  circle  there  will  be  one 
.fair  day  and  then  rain.  If  two  bright 
stars  appear  there  will  be  two  fair  days 
and  then  rain.  But  if  no  stars  are  with- 
in the  circle  the  following  day  will  be 
vrainy.  There  are  more  exceptions  to 
this  rule  than  any  of  the  others. 

If  the  sun  cast  a  red  reflection  on  the 
•clouds  in  the  morning,  rain  will  follow 
-that  day. 

If  the  sun  cast  a  red  reflection  at 
-night,  any  night  in  the  week  except, 
Thursday,  it  will  be  fair  the  next  day. 

If  the  sun  set  in  a  cloud  Thursday 
night,  there  will  be  rain  within  forty- 
'eight  hours. 

In  regard  to  the  Candlemas  sign,  I 
would  say,  that  I  never,  in  fifty  years, 
knew  it  to  fail  but  once. 

To  farmers,  I  wish  te  say.  that  if  the 
months  of  April  and  May  are  dry,  and 


104  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

there  follow  three  weeks  of  wet  wea- 
ther in  June,  first  or  last,  you  may 
reckon  on  a  fair  crop  of  English  hay. 

About  forty  years  ago,  passing  by 
'Squire  Adams'  hay-field  in  Medford, 
aboujt  the  10th  of  June,  I  saw  several 
hands  mowing,  while  he  was  spreading 
swaths.  "'Squire,"  said  I,  "I  hope 
that  that  hay  will  all  rot  before  you  can 
get  it  into  the  barn." 

"  What  have  I  ever  done  to  you,  that 
you  should  wish  such  a  wish  on  me," 
said  he,  wonderingly  and  laughingly. 

Three  weeks  from  that  day,  as  I  pass- 
ed that  way,  I  saw  the  same  hands 
opening  the  same  hay  for  the  first  time, 
and  in  fact  it  was  rotten.  "  Well,"  said 
the  'Squire,  "  you  have  your  wish,  the 
hay  is  rotten  and  I  am  glad  of  it." 

I  must  add,  the  hay  was  opened  on 
to  a  fine  crop  of  rowen,  that  had  grown 
since  mowing,  and  which  would  have 
greatly  enhanced  the  value  of  the  crop 
had  he  waited  four  weeks  longer. 

—  Now  to  my  story  again.     In  the 


WILMINGTON    FARMER.  105 

morning,  cold  as  it  was,  I  was  deter- 
mined to  make  the  attempt  to  get  home, 
in  spite  of  the  remonstrances  of  friends. 
Being  well  wrapped  up  and  shielded 
from  the  cold,  brother  Howard  brought 
me  home  in  his  chaise  with  my  horse 
tied  behind,  and  staid  over  night.  Two 
men  in  Woburn  went  into  a  lot  to  chop 
wood  that  day,  and  both  perished. 
Their  death  may  partially  be  attributed 
to  their  having  New  England  rum  with 
them. 

Another  instance  will  suffice  to  show 
the  intensity  of  the  cold.  A  stage  dri- 
ver, seated  on  his  box,  was  frozen  stiff, 
with  the  reins  for  four  horses  clenched 
with  a  death  grasp.  The  horses  turn- 
ed up  to  their  accustomed  hotel,  when 
the  driver  retained  his  seat,  much  to 
the  astonishment  of  the  passengers,  who 
were  fastened  in.  The  fact  was  soon 
developed,  that  the  driver  was  frozen 
to  death. 

In  sympathy  with  my  misfortune,  the 
citizens  generally  offered  to  give  each  a 


106  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON: 

•day's  work,  cutting  or  drawing  lumber, 
if  I  would  purchase  it.  Accordingly 
an  acre  of  standing  wood  and  timber 
was  bought  of  Wm.  Blanchard,  Esq., 
for  $100.  It  was  situated  about  forty 
rods  west  of  Maj.  Pearson's,  my  board- 
ing place. 

A  day  was  set,  and  notice  given  that 
I  would  find  a  warm  dinner,  but  they 
must  bring  forage  for  the  teams. 

I  bought  one  barrel  of  cider  ;  the 
butcher  made  a  generous  consideration 
on  the  beef,  and  on  applying  to  Capt. 
-Joseph  Bond,  the  first,  and  extensively 
known,  cracker  baker  in  Wilmington, 
for  bread,  he  magnanimously  gave  all 
the  crackers  wanted  and  several  pans 
-©f  gingerbread.  Mrs.  Pearson  and 
her  daughter  Mary  did  the  cooking 
gratis. 

As  many  took  their  grub  in  the  house 
as  could  be  convened,  others  took  theirs 
at  the  door  by  means  of  barrels  cover- 
ed with  boards.  They  had  plenty  of 
roast  beef,  good  boiled  potatoes,  crack- 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  107 

«ers  and  cider.     This  last  article  was 
finished  that  night. 

Some  backed  up  their  gift  by  coming 
the  next  day,  when  the  lot  was  cleared 
and  the  logs  drawn  ashore,  but  not  all 
drawn  to  the  mill.  On  the  first  day 
there  were  45  men  and  20  yoke  of  oxen. 
Although  lame,  I  procured  a  handy 
yoke  of  cattle  and  managed  to  draw 
-the  remaining  logs  to  mill,  about  one 
.and  one-third  jniles,  that  whiter.. 


108  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 


SEVENTH    LINK. 


The  next  spring,  being  unable  to 
work  on  a  farm,  I  let  myself  to  brother 
Elbridge  to  drive  a  market  cart,  at  low 
wages. 

I  next  hired  out  to  Capt.  Stephen 
Abbott  of  Andover.  When  arranging 
the  bargain,  he  said,  "  I  want  you  to 
try  if  possible  to  please  my  father.  If 
you  cannot  please  him  and  me  too,  be 
sure  and  please  him." 

I  thought  better  of  him  for  that,  and 
was  certain  he  would  be  a  good  man 
to  work  for.  To  spurn  the  wishes  of 
the  aged,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  is  too  pre- 
valent, but  nevertheless  indicates  great 
lack  of  sensibility.  Who  are  the  party 
to  be  pleased,  but  the  original  owners  ? 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  109 

And  I  advise  them  never  to  give  up 
their  ownership  as  long  as  life  lasts. 

In  looking  back  upon  the  summer 
spent  in  Mr.  Abbott's  family,  I  reckon 
it  as  onesof  the  green  spots  in  life ;  an 
oasis  never  to  be  forgotten.  The  old 
gentleman  was  so  completely  ingratiat- 
ed into  my  favor,  that  nothing  I  did 
was  amiss.  Phebe,  his  daughter  was  a 
fine  girl, —  good  in  every  sense  of  the 
word. 

Capt.  Stephen  and  wife  were  christ- 
ians,  possessing  "  pure  and  undefiled 
religion,"  if  we  may  be  allowed  to 
judge  from  the  Scripture  rule,  "  by 
their  works  ye  shall  know  them." 

It  was  customary  in  those  days  to  buy 
cattle  by  the  pound,  to  be  weighed  after 
dressing.  I  knew  his  integrity  to  be 
such  that  he  would  not  cheat  a  man 
out  of  a  pound  in  weight,  or  an  ounce 
of  tallow. 

With  regret  I  left  that  family  in  ear- 
ly winter,  as  my  mill-pond  had  filled 
up  and  I6*gs  were  in  waiting.  I  took 


110  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  .' 

lodgings  again  at  Major  Pearson's  and 
tended  the  mill.  I  stuck  close  and 
worked  hard  day  and  night.  At  one 
time,  I  kept  the  saw  running  five  days 
and  five  nights  all  myself,  excepting: 
five  hours.  I  then  said  that  I  would 
never  work  so  hard  again,  even  if  it 
was  to  keep  out  of  the  poor-house. 

Spring  opening,  I  set  up  b  atchering 
in  company  with  James  Dean,  and' 
Boarded  with  him.  I  found,  in  this 
family,  a  similarity  to  Mr.  Parker  and 
his  wife,— '  a  woman  amiable  and  gen- 
tle yoked  with  a  tiger. 

Times  being  dull,  a  new  idea  came" 
Tip.  I  thought  to  take  a  two-horse  load 
of  groceries,  and  go  back  into  the 
country  to  trade.  I  took  tea,  coffee, 
ehocolate,  tobacco  and  some  rice.  At 
Mt.  Vernon  traded  a  chest  of  tea  for  a 
fat  cow ;  I  left  her  to  be  sent  to  Dean's 
in  Wilmington,  in  Flint's  drove,  and 
went  on.  I  put  up  at  Gibson's  tavern, 
Francistown,  over  the  Sabbath,  and 
started  early  Monday,  crosseti.  Concord 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  Ill 

River  at  Windsor  bridge,  and  soon  saw 
the  sign,  "  Allen  Hayse."  I  offered  a 
barter  trade  with  him,  when  he  handed- 
me  a  piece  of  paper,  saying,  "  Put  down* 
every  article  and  your  price,  and  if  I 
trade  I  shall  pay  in?,  butter  at  8  cents- 
per  pound/' 

When  done,  he  sai$,  "All  but  the 
rice  I  will  take  ;  you  must  take  75  cts. 
0ff  that,  and  I  will  take  the  whole." 

It  was  agreed  upon,  and  the  butter 
proving  good,  I  started  back  the  same' 
night;  carried  the  load  to  Salem  and; 
sold  it  for  12£  cts.  per  lb,,  making  a 
good  profit. 

The  cow  was  bought  by  friend  Ab- 
bott, the  butcher,  before  I  reached; 
home ;  he  said-  he  would  give  me  $2 
more  than  I  gave  for  it,  which  allowed 
$1  profit  and  $1  for  drift. 

Another  journey  similar  to  that  was- 
made,  with  less  profit,  as  butter  had 
risen,  making  it  uncertain,  business. 

The  next  autumn,  for  the  advantage 
of  being  nearer  the  mill,  I  boarded  at 


112  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

Joshua  Harnden's  tavern,  and  attended 
to  lumbering  the  next  winter.  My  plan 
was  to  buy  a  wood-lot,  top  and  bottom  ; 
to  hire  the  wood  chopped  by  the  cord, 
the  lumber  by  the  thousand,  and  to 
draw  it  into  the  mill  myself,  a  man 
being  hired  to  tend  the  mill. 

Let  me  here  tell  a  fox  story.  As  I 
was  returning  from  Salem,  in  company 
with  Capt.  Ezra  Kendall,  of  Wilming- 
ton, and  when  between  my  mill  and 
boarding  house,  we  espied  a  fox  run 
across  the  road.  "  Run,"  said  I  to 
Kendall,  "  and  head  him,  and  I  will 
stand  and  give  him  a  cut  if  he  comes 
back  on  the  same  track."  He  did  so. 

"  He  is  coming,"  said  Kendall.  I 
stood  ready,  keeping  an  eye  on  him. 
He  looked  back  several  times  to  make 
sure  he  was  safe  from  his  driver,  but 
did  not  notice  me,  as  he  always  turned 
his  head  the  other  way.  When  with- 
in reach  of  the  whip,  I  gave  him  a  cut 
and  he  fell  to  the  ground  with  a  scream, 
apparently  dead.  I  took  him  up  by  the 


WILMINGTON  FARMER, 

nape  of  the  neck ;  he  was  limpsy  as  a 
.rag,  but  as  I  carried  him  along  he  gave 
another  childlike  scream,  with  a  des- 
perate struggle,  which  so  startled  me 
that  I  came  near  dropping  him.  How- 
ever, I  held  en  till  the  house  was  gam- 
ed, and  gave  him  to  two  boys.,  who 
made  a  little  pen  of  boards,  covering  rt 
<safely  to  prevent  escape.  During  that 
night,  foxes  were  heard  about  the  house 
by  the  inmates,  and  when  the  morning 
icame,  lo !  and  behold,  the  boys  were 
minus  the  fox.  Other  foxes  had  come 
in  the  night  and  dug  him  out,  as  evinced 
by  the  fact  that  the  dirt  from  the  bur- 
jrow  was  thrown  out  on  -the  outside. 

To  reiairn  <to  my  narrative.  About 
this  time  I  was  informed  that  David 
Foster,  of  Ashby,  wished  to  sell  a  cer- 
tain lot  laying  South  of  Thomas  E. 
.Upton's  house.  I  made  up  my  mind 
to  start  the  next  morning  for  the  pur- 
pose of  trying  to  buy  it.  That  evening, 
coming  across  Capt.  George  Ford,  he 
said  to  me, 


114  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

"  Sheldon,  do  you  want  to  buy  a  wood 
lotl" 

"  Yes,"  said  I,  "  who  has  got  one  to 
selU" 

"  I  have ;  the  Foster  lot,  front  of 
Tom  Upton's." 

"  What  is  your  price  ?  " 

"  $1500,"  was  the  answer. 

"Will  you  take  $1100." 

"  No,  I  have  been  oiFered  $1300  for 
it  to-day." 

"  Capt.  Ford,  do  you  own  that  lot?  " 
said  I,  with  not  a  little  emphasis. 

"  Yes,  I  do,  faith,"  said  he. 

As  I  looked  him  in  the  face,  I  dis- 
covered a  blush.  From  that  moment  I 
made  up  my  mind  to  carry  out  my  first 
purpose. 

Accordingly  I  made  preparations  to 
start  for  Ashby  early  the  next  morning. 
I  told  the  landlady  that  I  must  start 
early  and  might  not  be  home  that  night. 

"  Are  you  going  to  Salem  ?  "  said 
she. 

"  I  do  not  know  where  I  shall  go, 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  115 

and  if  I  am  not  back  for  two  days  you 
need  not  fear." 

I  was  on  my  way  as  far  as  Westford 
before  sunrise.  Took  dinner  at  Stone's 
Tavern,  Townsend,  left  my  horse  and 
proceeded  on  foot  to  Mr.  Foster's. 

"  Have  you  a  wood-lot  in  Wilming- 
ton to  sell,  Mr.  Foster  ? " 
"  I  have,"  he  answered. 
"  What  do  you  ask  for  it  ?  " 
"  $1100,"  was  the  answer. 
"Will  you  take  $900?" 
"  No,  I  won't." 

"  What  is  the  lowest  you  will  take?" 
"  What  pay  can  you  make  1 " 
"  What  pay  do  you  want  ? " 
"  I  want  $300  down  and  the  remain- 
der in  one  year,"  said  he. 

"  What  security  do  you  want  for  the 
$700?" 

"  Do  you  know  Joshua  Harnden  ?  " 

"  I  do  ;  I  board  with  him." 

"  Pay  me  $300  cash,  and  bring  me 

a  note  for  $700  with  your  name  and 

Harnden's,  and  you  shall  have  the  lot." 


116  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON": 

"  I  want  you  to  give  me  the  refusal 
of  that  lot  ten  days,  at  the  rate  you 
have  named,  or  for  all  the  cash  down," 
said  I. 

"  Can  you  raise  all  the  money,"  said 
he. 

"  If  you  will  take  $900 1  think  I  can." 

"  I  will  not,  but  if  you  will  bring  me 
$930  you  shall  have  it,"  said  he. 

I  took  out  a  ten  dollar  bill  and 
presented  it,  saying,  "  if  I  do  not  come 
and  comply  with  one  of  the  above 
named  terms  within  ten  days,  the  bill 
is  yours.  If  I  do,  it  shall  go  toward 
the  payment." 

"  If  you  don't  have  the  land,  I  will 
have  none  of  your  money.  My  word 
is  good  for  it,"  said  he,  "  and  that  is 
enough." 

I  took  a  piece  of  chalk  from  my 
pocket  and  wrote  both  contracts  on  the 
ceiling  over  the  fire-place,  verbatim, 
thinking  if  it  remained  till  I  came  again 
there  would  be  hopes  of  getting  the 
land.  I  considered  it  a  great  bargain. 


'WILMINGTON  FARMER.  117 

Made  the  best  of  my  way  home,  con- 
triving a  little  circuitously  to  come  up 
•to  the  house  from  the  way  of  Salem. 
The  next  day  started  for  Henry  Carter's 
store  ;  I  told  him  my  business  and  asked 
what  was  the  prospect  for  raising  money 
to  buy  the  Foster  lot  at  $1100. 

•"  Is  it  possible,"  said  he,  "  that  Ford 
would  give  you  the  refusal  of  that  lot 
for  $1100  when  I  offered  him  $1300 1 " 

I  told  him,  "  Ford  did  not  own  it, 
the  truth  was  I  could  have  it  for  $930." 
Ford  had  had  the  refusal  of  the  lot,  but 
the  time  had  expired.  He  had  been 
written  to  on  the  subject,  but  took  no 
notice  of  it. 

The  preliminary  matters  were  ar- 
ranged and  I  started  with  the  $930 
sewed  into  my  vest  pocket.  Sure 
-enough  I  felt  a  little  chilly  about  the 
bargain,  as  Foster  was  a  stranger  and 
an  illiterate  man.  On  going  into  the 
house  I  saw  that  every  letter  of  the 
chalk  writing  remained.  My  courage 
came  back.  Foster  said,  "  I  can't  do 


118  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

anything  with  you  to-day.  But  will 
give  you  $20  if  you  will  do  right.  I 
felt  doubtful  and  agitated,  but  said  little. 
Soon  he  said, 

"  Do  you  know  Maj.  D.  Cummings  of 
Andover ? " 

"  Yes,  I  do." 

"  Well,  he  sent  a  hand  up  and  offer- 
ed $1000  for  the  lot,  cash  down,  but  I 
swear  you  have  my  word." 

As  nothing  more  could  be  done  that 
day,  I  prepared  to  spend  the  night  in 
this  unique  habitation.  It  had  two 
rooms  on  the  base,  was  one  story  in 
height,  and  unclapboarded.  Two  small 
glass  windows  in  front  and  aboard  one 
in  the  rear  that  could  be  taken  down  at 
pleasure.  A  pretty  good  rough  stone 
hearth,  with  a  pine  post  near  the  fire- 
place, to  support  the  garret  floor.  So 
much  had  been  hewed  off  for  kindlings 
that  at  the  bottom  it  was  not  larger  than 
a  joist.  Breakfast  consisted  of  fresh 
pork  steak  well  fried,  roasted  potatoes, 
doughnuts,  and  a  cup  of  tea.  In  all  it 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  119 

was  good.  And  the  curiosity  was,  Mrs. 
Foster  had  no  other  article  to  cook 
with  but  a  dish-kettle.  Everything 
cooked  went  through  the  dish-kettle, 
and  they  were  considered  wealthy. 
Before  rising  the  next  morning  I  heard 
the  following  conversation  between  Mr. 
Foster  and  a  man  whose  farm  he  had 
bargained  for. 

"  Has  your  man  come  up  ? "  said  the 
man. 

"  Yes,  and  I  suppose  he  has  got  all 
the  money,  but  I  don't  know." 

"  Then  if  he  pays  you  the  whole,  I 
suppose  you  can  pay  me  the  whole," 
said  the  man. 

"  Yes  if  you  will  pay  me  for  it,"  said 
Foster. 

"  How  much  must  I  give  you  1 " 

"  Make  your  own  offer." 

"  I'll  give  you  $10." 

"  That  will  never  do,"  was  the  re- 
sponse. 

"  I'll  give  you  $15." 

"  That  won't  do  neither." 


120  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

"  I'll  tell  you  the  most  I  will  give, 
I'll  give  you  $20." 

"  It  is  a  bargain,"  said  Foster.  "Job, 
my  son,  run  down  to  'Squire  Richard- 
son's and  tell  him  to  come  up  and  bring 
-two  deeds  with  him." 

I  was  quick  out  of  bed  and  dressed, 
and  the  reason  was  disclosed  why  he 
was  not  ready  for  me  yesterday.  The 
'Squire  was  soon  there.  The  deeds 
were  executed,  Foster  signing  them. 
His  wife  took  up  the  pen  to  write  but 
he  held  her  back,  and  yet  again,  with 
the  same  effect.  At  length  I  threw  a 
•silver  dollar  on  to  the  deed.  "  There, 
that  will  make  the  pen  go,"  said  Foster. 
And  quickly  the  pen  scratched  her 
name. 

The  clearing  of  this  large  lot  ©f 
lumber  was  quite  satisfactory.  At  the 
time  War  was  declared  in  1812,  I  had 
200  cords  of  wood  corded  on  the  lot 
ready  for  market.  In  two  days  the 
price  rose  $2  per  cord.  I  offered  a 
string  of  forty-five  cords  to  a  man  the 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  121 

day  before  the  declaration,  for  $3  per 
cord.  The  day  after  the  declaration, 
he  came  again  and  bought  it  for  $5. 

Mr.  Ephraim  Pratt,  tanner,  of  North 
Reading,  came  into  the  lot  and  bar- 
gained for  the  bark  on  forty-five  oak 
trees ;  he  was  to  peel  it  himself  and  I 
was  to  team  it,  for  $18.  He  wrote  a 
contract  with  a  pencil  on  a  small  bit  of 
paper  he  chanced  to  have  in  his  pocket, 
for  all  the  bark  on  all  the  trees  in  the 
Foster  lot,  so  called.  I  refused  to  sign 
it.  He  remarked,  we  know  each  other ; 
we  both  know  what  it  means.  I  then 
signed  it.  Mr.  Pratt  took  with  him  to 
peel  the  bark,  a  man  more  trickish  than 
he  or  I  was.  This  man  advised  him  to 
peel  more  than  the  forty-five  trees  as 
the  contract  was  indefinite,  and  suc- 
ceeded in  persuading  him  to  peel  one 
hundred.  On  being  applied  to,  to  team 
off  the  bark,  I  refused,  as  there  was  no 
time  set  in  the  contract. 

"  What  is  the  reason,"  said  he,  "  that 
you  will  not  team  that  bark  ? " 


122  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON: 

"  You  know  as  well  as  I  do." 

He  then  said,  "  How  much  shall  I 
give  you  to  team  that  bark,  and  we  be  as 
good  friends  as  we  always  have  been?" 

I  said,  "  give  me  $18  more."  He 
took  the  money  out  of  his  pocket-book 
and  straightway  gave  it  to  me,  saying, 
"  Sheldon,  I  have  felt  worse  about  the 
peeling  of  that  bark  than  you  have. 
It  is  the  first  time  I  was  ever  persuad- 
ed by  another  man  to  do  contrary  to 
well  understood  agreement,  and  I  am 
determined  it  shall  be  the  last. 

I  was  well  acquainted  with  Pratt 
from  his  youth  to  his  death,  and  it  is 
no  more  than  justice  to  say,  I  consider- 
ed him  an  upright,  honest  man,  but 
for  once  he  was  induced  to  swerve  by  a 
sly,  trickish  man,  who  got  no  thanks 
from  either  party. 

I  will  now  state  an  event  which  took 
place  at  this  time.  My  mother,  then 
residing  in  Danvers,  had  a  supposed 
claim  on  my  old  friend  Joseph  Tapley. 
However,  they  could  not  talk  on  the 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  123 

subject  for  irritation.      "  Mother,"  said 
I,  "  what  is  that  claim  worth  ? " 

"  It  is  worth  $60,  but  I  will  sell  it 
for  $50,  cash." 

"  I  will  give  it,"  I  answered.  I  went 
immediately  to  see  Tapley,  and  told 
him  I  had  bought  mother's  claim. 

"  Am  glad  of  it,"  said  he  ;  "  now  I 
think  we  shall  be  able  to  settle  it. 
Have  you  spoken  with  a  lawyer  ? " 

"  No,  I  never  spoke  with  a  lawyer  in 
my  life,"  said  I. 

"  Then  we  will  go  to  Lawyer  Putnam 
together." 

He  found  the  chaise  and  I  the  horse, 
and  when  we  arrived  there,  he  said, 
"  Sheldon,  you  are  the  youngest,  you 
may  tell  the  story  first." 

I  told  the  story  as  I  understood  it. 
Putnam  then  said,  "  Mr.  Tapley,  have 
you  anything  to  say  to  this  story,  for  or 
against." 

"  No,  sir,  it  is  as  correct  as  I  could 
state  it  myself." 
1  "  The  claim  is  good,"  said  Putnam, 


124  LIFE  OF  ASA  0.  SHELDON  : 

"  and  no  man  can  better  tell  the  worth 
of  it,  than  you  two.  You  both  had 
better  chalk  what  you  think  it  worth." 

We  did  chalk,  and  on  examination 
found  that  Tapley  had  chalked  $100, 
and  I  $120. 

"  Well,"  said  Putnam,  "  that  is  as 
near  as  a  buyer  and  seller  could  be  ex- 
pected to  come.  You  had  better  split 
the  difference." 

This  was  speedily  agreed  upon.  Put- 
nam made  out  the  documents  for  moth- 
er to  sign.  Tapley  sold  me  a  yoke  of 
oxen  for  $60,  and  gave  his  note  for 
$50.  He  then  stated  to  Putnam  that 
as  we  had  come  there  for  the  amicable 
adjustment  of  our  affairs,  we  had  con- 
cluded to  share  the  cost  together,  "  Now 
what  is  your  fee  ? " 

"  You  love  each  other  so  well,  and 
dislike  quarrelling  so  bad,"  said  Put- 
nam, "  that  I  will  not  take  one  cent. 
But  this  I  must  say,  if  everybody  were 
of  your  minds,  I  would  not  give  a  mill 
for  a  lawyer's  profession." 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  125 


EIGHTH    LINK. 


Capt.  Joseph.  Bond  had  just  given 
his  business  of  baking  into  the  hands 
of  his  sons  Joseph  and  William.  To 
increase  their  manufactures,  they  were 
at  a  loss  how  to  procure  faggots,  which 
were  then  used  exclusively  for  oven 
heating. 

I  told  them  there  would  be  no  trou- 
ble if  they  would  pay  enough  for  them. 
"  It  is  such  mean  business,  nobody  will 
make  them,"  they  said. 

"  It  will  not  be  a  mean  business  if 
you  will  pay  a  fair  price  for  them." 

"  Who  will  make  them,  if  we  will 
pay  well  for  it  ? " 

"  I  will,"  said  I. 


126  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON: 

"  I  should  laugh,  to  see  you  making 
faggots." 

"I  should  laugh  to  see  you  paying 
me  the  money  for  it,"  said  I. 

The  bargain  was  concluded  between 
us,  that  I  should  make  all  I  could  in  five 
days,  anywhere  in  Wilmington  where 
they  could  go  with  a  team,  and  they 
would  draw  them  and  pay  li  cents  per 
bundle.  At  work  I  went,  and  in  five 
days  made  1000  bundles,  for  which  they 
paid  me  $15.  In  less  than  a  fortnight 
after,  many  respectable  citizens,  togeth- 
er with  the  minister,  his  two  sons  and 
the  deacon,  employed  themselves  in 
making  faggots  for  the  Bonds.  And 
from  that  day  to  this  it  has  never  been 
considered  mean  business.  Many  a 
laboring  man  has  earned  a  few  dollars, 
who  could  not  get  it  in  any  other  way. 
Besides  the  benefit  arising  from  the 
faggots  themselves,  it  has  been  the 
cause  of  clearing  many  acres  of  swamp 
or  low  land,  which  proves  the  best  land 
for  cultivation  we  have  in  Wilmington. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  127 

In  June,  1812,  I  commenced  the 
business  of  carrying  hops  to  Southern 
markets.  I  started  with  a  two-horse 
team  loaded  with  hops  and  shoes,  for 
New  York  city,  partly  owned  by  myself 
and  partly  by  others.  This  slow  mode 
of  transportation  was  resorted  to,  on 
account  of  the  existing  war.  On  ar- 
riving at  New  Haven,  I  found  packets 
were  safely  running  from  there  through 
Long  Island  Sound  to  New  York  and 
my  hops  could  be  carried  for  one-fourth 
cent  per  pound  and  my  fare  both  ways 
thrown  into  the  bargain.  I  thought 
best  to  take  that  course,  and  on  my 
arrival  found  the  brewers  very  ready  to 
buy  the  hops  which  were  soon  disposed 
of,  and  last  of  all  the  box  of  shoes. 
The  shoes  were  sold  to  a  firm  for  $  150. 
I  procured  a  drayman  to  take  them  to 
the  store.  The  storekeeper  counted  out 
the  money,  laid  it  on  the  counter,  and 
then  presented  a  receipt,  which  I  sign- 
ed and  handed  back  to  him.  He  took 
it,  grabbing  the  money  at  the  same 


128  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

time,  exclaimed,  "  Now  I  have  shaved 
the  Yankee,  I  have  the  receipt,  and 
you  have  not  got  the  money." 

I  waited  a  few  moments  to  see  what 
he  would  do,  as  he  had  put  the  money 
away.  Then  said  I,  "  will  you  pay  me 
that  money  ? " 

He  said,  "  I  have  your  receipt  for  all 
I  owed  you." 

"  Did  you  hear  that  man  say  he  had 
my  receipt  and  I  had  not  got  my 
money  ? "  said  I  to  the  drayman,  whom 
I  had  designedly  kept  waiting. 

"  Yes,"  was  his  answer.  As  I  step- 
ped out  of  the  store,  I  heard  an  elderly 
man  say,  "  You  have  carried  that  joke 
too  far  with  a  stranger  ;  you  had  better 
settle  with  him."  Upon  that  he  called 
me  back,  saying  he  would  pay  me. 
The  difference  between  New  York  and 
Massachusetts  money  at  that  time,  was 
16  per  cent.  But  it  was  understood 
that  New  York  merchants  in  buying, 
expected  to  pay  in  New  York  money, 
as  their  banks  had  stopped  specie  pay- 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  129 

ments.  He  then  counted  it  out  in  New 
York  bills.  I  said,  "  I  can't  take  that, 
I  must  have  Massachusetts  money,  or 
gold  or  silver,  you  have  gone  too  far 
with  me  to  have  me  accept  that  money." 

"How  much  premium,"  said  he, 
"  shall  I  give  on  this  money? " 

"  Sixteen  per  cent,"  said  I.  He 
straightway  counted  out  the  cash,  $24. 
I  pocketed  the  money ;  it  was  $2-4  more 
than  I  had  expected;  I  then  said, "  if  you 
have  shaved  the  Yankee,  you  are  wel- 
come to  Ae  bristles,"  and  then  bade  him 
"  good-bye  "  with  as  much  politeness  as 
my  Yankee  blue  frock  would  admit  of. 
I  then  returned  to  New  Haven,  bought 
a  load  of  flour  at  $8  per  bbl.,  and  start- 
ed my  team  for  home.  At  Worcester, 
I  saw  a  company  about  to  raise  a  sign- 
post. I  asked  the  man  if  he  had 
opened  a  tavern.  He  said,  "  I  am 
ready  to."  I  then  called  for  dinner  for 
myself  and  horses.  He  asked  if  I 
would  sell  a  barrel  of  flour,  which  I 
did  for  $18,  and  took  pay  in  18  bushels 


130  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

of  buckwheat.  His  name  was  Charles 
Stearns.  He  said  I  was  the  first  man 
who  had  patronized  him.  Nearly  all 
the  buckwheat  sold  for  $3.50  per  bush., 
and  the  flour  at  $18  per  barrel.  The 
next  morning  I  started  back  to  Worces- 
ter for  another  load  of  buckwheat.  I 
succeeded  in  buying  as  before,  at  $1 
per  bushel,  but  when  I  returned  wheat 
had  fallen  and  I  realized  only  a  fair 
profit. 

I  soon  set  out  again  with  hops,  with 
a  team  of  three  horses,  for  New  York 
city.  This  time  I  drove  the  horses 
through,  carefully  noting  in  a  guide- 
book, where  I  could  bait  the  team,  and 
where  put  up  for  the  night,  all  through 
the  route,  if  I  should  conclude  to  team 
with  oxen,  should  the  war  continue. 
Disposed  of  the  hops  and  took  on  a 
load  of  cotton  to  bring  to  Boston,  for 
four  cents  per  pound.  The  new  crop 
of  hops  was  now  in  process  of  gather- 
ing, and  I  set  about  preparing  two  ox- 
teams  for  the  purpose  of  teaming  them. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  131 

These  teams  consisted  of  six  oxen  and 
one  horse  each.  For  driver,  hired  Jo- 
seph Gowing  of  this  town,  now  of  Am- 
herst,  N.  H.  Price  for  carrying,  four 
cents  per  pound.  We  set  forward,  and 
when  at  New  Haven,  there  being  no 
fear  of  the  British,  as  was  sometimes 
the  case,  put  the  hops  on  board  a  packet 
for  New  York.  Freight  on  board  the 
packet  was  one-fourth  cent  per  pound 
and  my  fare  both  ways  thrown  in.  Dis- 
tance, 75  miles.  I  bought  two  loads  of 
flour  and  left  Gowing  to  load  it  and  tend 
team.  This  flour  was  also  sold  to  Bond, 
of  this  town,  for  $18  per  barrel. 

This  business  was  continued  while 
the  war  lasted,  and  sometimes  I  made 
the  entire  route  with  the  ox  teams. 
Jabez  Gowing, now  of  Concord,  Mass., 
was  teamster  on  two  of  these  trips. 
We  always  brought  loads  back — some- 
times cotton,  sometimes  flour,  and  once 
glass. 

I  hope  the  following  facts  will  not 
be  thought  too  egotistical.  At  one 


132  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

time  I  had  $5000  in  gold  to  bring  back 
for  myself  and  others.  The  load  con- 
sisted of  flour.  Before  starting  every 
barrel  was  inspected  by  a  cooper  who 
nailed  the  hoops  anew,  and  pronounced 
it  safe.  I  knocked  in  the  head  of  one 
barrel,  took  out  a  quantity  of  flour,  de- 
posited the  gold,  put  back  the  flour  and 
passed  over  the  barrel  to  the  cooper, 
who  said  nothing  but  fastened  in  the 
head  as  usual.  To  be  sure  I  kept  an 
eye  on  that  barrel  until  loaded ;  its 
place  was  in  the  centre  of  the  load. 

On  the  way  home  Jabez  inquired, 
"  What  have  you  done  with  that  mon- 
ey?" 

"  Oh,  you  had  better  not  know." 

"Why?  I  can't  see  what  hurt  it 
would  do  for  me  to  know." 

"  Well,  I  can  convince  you  that  you 
had  better  not  know.  Nobody  now 
knows  where  it  is  but  myself.  If  I 
should  tell  you  and  it  should  be  missing 
who  should  I  suspect  but  you  "?  " 

"  I  don't  want  to  know,"  said  he. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  133 

I  sold  all  but  one  barrel  to  William 
Bond. 

"  Why  not  every  barrel  ? "  said  he. 

"  Oh,  must  carry  one  to  my  boarding 
place."  The  money  came  home  safe. 

In  the  month  of  November,  at  8 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  while  my  men 
were  engaged  in  finishing  a  job  of 
work,  I  was  called  upon  to  fit  out  two 
teams  to  go  to  New  York,  with  great 
despatch.  Benjamin  Thompson  came 
to  me  and  asked  if  I  could  carry  two 
loads  of  hops  to  market  for  him  and 
start  the  next  morning. 

"  Where  are  the  hops  ? " 

"  Part  at  my  press,  part  at  Hopkins', 
and  part  at  Jonathan  Carter's." 

"  If  you  will  deliver  them  all  at  my 
boarding-place  by  2  o'clock  this  after- 
noon, I  will  do  it,"  said  I. 

"  I  will  get  them  there." 

Leaving  men  and  teams  to  close  up 
the  work,  I  jumped  on  to  my  horse  and 
made  for  Eben  Jones'  in  Andover,  and 
accosted  him  thus : 


134  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

"  I  want  you  to  drive  your  white- 
faced  ox  down  to  the  blacksmith's  at 
North  Reading,  and  tell  him  to  shoe 
him  for  me  to  go  to  New  York,  and 
charge  the  shoeing  to  me.  Then  drive 
him  up  to  me  and  if  I  don't  exchange 
with  you,  I'll  give  in  the  shoeing." 

"  I  will  go  because  the  ox  wants 
shoeing,  but  shall  not  trade  with  you." 

I  knew  that  ox  was  made  for  a  trav- 
eller ;  but  when  he  came  up  with  him, 
Mr.  Jones  said,  "  Your  oxen  are  now 
mated  as  well  as  they  can  be." 

"  I  want  you  should  tell  me  how  you 
will  trade,"  said  I. 

"  I  shall  ask  you  $10,"  said  he,  "  and 
your  oxen  will  not  look  so  well  and 
will  not  fetch  as  much  as  now." 

I  placed  the  money  in  his  hand. 
He  in  surprise  said, 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  your  ox?" 

"  Nothing.  He  is  as  well  as  any  ox 
in  the  world." 

"  Then  what  makes  you  mis-mate 
them  ? " 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  135 

"  Neither  you  nor  any  other  man  can 
persuade  me  to  start  to  New  York  with 
an  ox  whose  toes  turn  out  and  whose 
knees  bend  in." 

"  That  makes  no  difference,"  said  he 
in  true  sympathy,  "  Now  don't  be  so 
foolish  as  to  throw  away  your  $10." 

"  It  makes  a  difference  with  oxen 
that  work  for  me,  and  I  am  satisfied." 
He  took  the  ox  and  went  his  way. 

Thompson  delivered  the  hops  accord- 
ing to  agreement,  and  about  3  o'clock 
William  Blanchard,  Esq.,  came  and 
asked  me, 

"  Can  you  start  a  load  of  hops  for 
New  York  to-morrow  morning  for  me  T' 

"  Wait  ten  minutes  and  I  will  tell 
you  what  I  can  do."  I  stepped  into 
the  house  and  said  to  Mr.  Harnden, 

"  Will  you  sell  me  those  oxen  I  sold 
you  the  other  day  ? " 

"  Yes,  you  may  have  them  for  the 
same  I  gave  you." 

"  Will  you  let  me  your  wagon  to  go 
New  York  ?  "  "  Yes,"  said  he. 


136  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

I  then  told  the  'Squire  I  would  take 
his  hops,  if  he  would  sell  me  his  black 
and  yellow  oxen  and  advance  $100  on 
the  job,  for  I  never  liked  to  start  on  a 
journey  without  money  enough  to  meet 
exigencies. 

"  What  do  you  call  the  oxen  worth1?" 

"  $75,"  was  the  answer. 

' '  You  shall  have  them ;  but  you  could 
not  have  them  one  cent  less." 

It  was  dark  when  the  hops  were 
finished  loading.  I  then  rode  down  to 
Stephen  Buxton's  in  Reading,  knowing 
his  cattle  like  a  book.  I  found  him  in 
bed,  but  rapped  at  his  window  and  said, 
"  Mr.  Buxton,  I  want  you  to  get  up,  go 
to  your  barn  and  sell  me  your  twin 
oxen." 

"  I  will  not  get  up  to  sell  them  to 
any  man  that  ever  was  made  ;  but  you 
may  take  the  lantern  and  go  and  take 
them  for  $75." 

I  went  and  yoked  them,  carried  in 
the  lantern  and  said,  "  I  will  take  them 
if  you'll  throw  in  the  yoke  \ " 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  137 

"  I  will  not  throw  in  one  cent.  You 
may  take  it  for  your  journey." 

"  I  will,"  said  I,  "  on  these  condi- 
tions, that  you  come  after  it  when  you 
want  it.  The  yoke  was  never  called 
for. 

"  You  needn't  unyoke  them,"  said 
Buxton ;  "  being  twins  they  like  to  lay 
in  the  yoke  as  well  as  any  other  way." 
They  were  not  unyoked  till  they  came 
back  from  their  journey. 

I  would  not  have  it  understood  that 
I  recommend  leaving  cattle  over  night 
in  the  yoke.  There  is  not  freedom 
enough  enjoyed  in  that  way. 

These  twins  were  great  jumpers,  and 
the  man  who  raised  them  kept  them 
in  yoke  all  summer  on  that  account. 
I  reached  home  with  them  about  one 
o'clock.  Charged  the  man  who  fed 
the  teams  to  wake  me  in  two  hours. 
And  before  the  sun  was  in  sight  my 
three  teams  were  all  moving  on  the 
road  toward  New  York.  The  journey 
was  prosperous,  and  every  ox  came 


138  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

back  as  ready  to  work  as  when  they 
started.  But  the  ox  I  put  to  Jones'  had 
been  several  days  unable  to  work  from 
lameness.  "  I  never  had  so  bad  a 
trade,"  said  he. 

At  another  time,  on  our  homeward 
journey,  I  was  taken  sick,  and  with 
great  difficulty  reached  the  tavern  at 
which  I  intended  to  rest  for  the  night. 
This  general  distress  was  caused  by 
exposure  to  humid  atmosphere  the  day 
before,  getting  chilled  and  then  laying 
exposed  to  the  cold.  This  last  misfor- 
tune should  be  carefully  avoided  after 
unusual  exposure. 

This  was  Saturday  night.  On  Mon- 
day, finding  myself  unable  to  proceed, 
I  hired  a  hand  to  drive,  and  was  left 
alone  with  my  host  and  hostess.  The 
former,  after  some  little  conversation, 
proved  to  be  an  old  school-teacher  who 
had  just  married  one  of  his  pupils  and 
was  commencing  tavern-keeping  at  Far- 
mington.  They  urged  me,  but  urged 
in  vain,  to  have  a  physician  called ; 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  139 

they  administered  to  the  best  of  their 
skill,  by  sweating  and  herb  tea,  and 
after  four  days  I  was  able  to  take  the 
stage  and  overtook  the  teams  at  Stur- 
bridge  after  one  day's  ride,  grateful  for 
returning  health. 

In  April,  1814,  I  made  a  contract 
with  Amos  Binney,  navy  agent,  to  draw 
a  load  of  grape  shot  from  Charlestown 
to  Commodore  McDonald,  in  Vergennes, 
Vt.  I  brought  the  load  to  Wilmington 
with  four  oxen  and  a  horse.  It  weigh- 
ed 6,700  Ibs.,  at  3£  cents  per  Ib. 

Hearing  that  oxen  were  much  want- 
ed at  Vergennes,  I  bought  two  other 
yoke.  So  I  started  with  four  yoke  of 
oxen  and  a  horse.  They  walked  up 
the  hills  and  through  the  mud  smart 
and  easy.  Thinking  that  I  might  have 
some  weak  bridges  to  pass,  I  took  with 
me  a  chain  fifteen  feet  long  to  hitch  on 
to  the  end  of  the  wagon-tongue  to  save 
my  team  should  the  load  break  through. 
My  route  lay  through  Tewksbury,  Low- 
ell, North  Chehnsford,  Tyngsborough 


140  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

Dunstable,  Nashua,  South  Merrimac, 
Amherst,  Mt.  Vernon,  corner  of  Lynd- 
borough,  New  Boston,  Francistown, 
Deering,  Antrim,  Hillsborough,  Wash- 
ington, Lempster,  Unity,  Claremont, 
Weathersfield,  Cavendish,  Mt.  Holly, 
Ludlow,  Trenton,  Middlebury,  &c.,  to 
Vergennes.  I  crossed  the  beautiful 
Connecticut  River  between  Claremont 
and  Weathersfield,  where  so  straight 
was  its  course  you  might  discern  the 
bridge  five  miles  distant,  the  river  not 
varying  its  width. 

On  May  4th,  I  arrived  at  Vergennes, 
having  undressed  but  twice  on  the  jour- 
ney. The  shot  were  counted,  found 
"  all  right,"  and  I  received  my  pay. 

I  sold  my  oxen,  horse  and  harness, 
yokes  and  chains.  The  fifteen  feet  of 
chain  sold  for  $5,  double  what  it  cost 
new.  These  things  were  wanted  by 
the  farmers,  who  had  sold  theirs  to  the 
government.  The  two  yoke  last  pur- 
chased, brought  $25  per  yoke  more 
than  cost. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  141 

I  started  on  the  homeward  tack  the 
same  night,  with  a  market-man,  and 
proceeded  fourteen  miles,  and  then,  on 
foot  and  with  occasional  rides,  I  worm- 
ed my  way  home,  a  distance  of  one 
hundred  and  seventy-five  miles. 

In  Francistown,  as  the  company  were 
seating  themselves  at  the  breakfast  ta- 
ble, there  seemed  a  lack  of  room  for 
me,  my  appearance  being  rather  dirty 
and  repulsive.  The  inn-keeper  seeing 
this,  said,  "  Gen.  Chandler,  here,  move 
about  and  let  this  man  have  a  seat." 

When  loading  into  the  stage,  it  was 
called  out,  before  I  could  squeeze  in, 
"  No  room  for  you, — no  room  for  you." 
"  Make  room  for  him,"  said  the  inn- 
keeper, "  or  I'll  get  in  and  make  room 
for  him ;  his  money  is  as  good  as  yours." 
Room  was  made,  and  I  took  my  seat 
by  old  Gen.  Chandler.  He  inquired,  I 
thought,  too  minutely  into  my  business 
and  whereabouts,  and  said,  "  Wasn't 
you  afraid  to  carry  so  much  money?" 
"  No,  not  so  much  afraid  of  that  as  of 


142  LIFE  OP  ASA  G,  SHELDON  : 

not  being  allowed  to  sit  down  at  the 
table."  A  general  smile  pervaded  all 
faces,  and  from  that  time  we  were  chat- 
ting companions,  he  expressing  regret 
that  I  was  not  going  on  to  Boston. 

There  was  a  company  drilling  at 
Vergennes,  among  them  was  Joseph 
Southwick,  of  Danvers.  He  came  to 
me  as  soon  as  allowed,  and  he  was  the 
only  person  there  that  I  remembered 
seeing  before.  We  were  glad  to  meet. 
It  is  supposed  he  was  soon  after  killed 
in  an  engagement  that  took  place  on 
the  Lake,  as  he  was  not  heard  from 
afterwards.  He  was  son  of  George 
Southwick,  one  of  the  eight  martyrs 
that  fell  in  our  Revolutionary  struggle 
at  Lexington,  on  the  19th  of  April, 
and  whose  name  is  carved  on  the  mar- 
ble monument  there.  Joseph  was  born 
a  few  days  after  the  death  of  his  father. 

I  followed  teaming  hops,  which  then 
were  extensively  raised  in  this  town, 
while  the  war  continued,  with  com- 
mendable despatch.  The  whole  ar- 


WILMINGTON   FARMER.  143 

rangement  was  made  with  so  much 
system,  and  the  resting-places  all  de- 
signated with  so  much  precision,  that 
in  three  journeys  there  was  not  a  vari- 
iation  of  twelve  hours.  At  one  time, 
before  setting  out,  I  stated  the  hour  we 
would  be  back.  It  was  not  ten  minutes 
from  the  time  set  when  we  greeted  the 
home  band. 

On  starting  out,  old  farmers  said, 
our  oxen  would  wear  out  before  per- 
forming one  journey,  but  they  were  so 
well  cared  for,  night  and  day,  that 
every  pair  came  back  every  time  better 
than  they  started,  excepting  one  pair 
that  went  but  once,  because  like  Pha- 
raoh's lean  kine,  the  more  they  ate  the 
poorer  they  looked. 


144  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 


NINTH    LINK. 


War  ended,  and  I  still  continuing  to 
take  hops  to  New  York,  but  by  an  eas- 
ier mode  of  transportation.  The  hops 
were  put  on  board  a  sloop  at  Boston, 
and  I  took  stage  passage  to  dispose  of 
them  there.  Several  times  I  took  hops 
to  Philadelphia,  and  also  to  Baltimore. 

One  time  on  my  stage  journey  from 
New  York  to  Philadelphia,  as  the  host- 
ler was  changing  horses,  I  walked  on 
ahead,  and  met  a  man  that  deserves 
notice,  sure.  He  had  driven  an  ox- 
team,  loaded  with  tea,  from  Boston  to 
Philadelphia.  While  reaching  the  lat- 
ter place,  peace  was  declared  between 
the  belligerent  powers,  and  his  load 
was  not  worth  as  much  as  when  he 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  145 

started.  Soon  he  received  orders  to 
take  the  load  back.  I  inquired  how 
far  he  travelled  in  a  day.  He  said, 

"  I  don't  know,  but  I  can  tell  you  so 
that  you  can  give  a  pretty  near  guess. 
I  have  put  up  my  oxen  at  that  tavern 
yonder,  for  two  nights  and  have  not  got 
there  yet." 

He  was  in  a  fair  way  to  get  there  that 
day,  and  from  what  he  told,  I  judged 
he  advanced  about  two  miles  per  day. 
This  was  called  Jersey  swamp,  and 
some  idea  can  be  gained  from  it  of 
Southern  mud.  The  man  seemed  con- 
tented and  his  team  looked  well. 

We  now  come  to  that  important 
period  in  the  history  of  an  individual, 
on  which  hangs  so  much  of  future  weal 
or  woe.  My  marriage  with  CLARISSA 
EAMES,  daughter  of  Nathan  and  Su- 
sanna Eames,  was  consummated  Oct. 
4, 1815.  I  was  then  27  years  old,  and 
she  17.  Commenced  housekeeping  in 
what  is  termed  the  Ford  house ;  now 
occupied  by  Edwin  Blanchard. 


.     146  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

Nothing  note- worthy  passed  this  win- 
ter. On  March  20th,  David  Hart,  a 
hired  hand,  with  myself,  drove  two 
loads  of  trashy  wood  into  Boston,  and 
sold  it  for  $10  per  cord.  It  was  the 
highest  I  ever  sold  of  any  kind,  being 
principally  swamp  alders  and  blueberry 
bushes,  not  many  sticks  exceeding  a 
man's  wrist  in  size. 

Stoves,  now  so  common,  had  just 
come  into  use,  and  the  prevailing  opin- 
ion was,  that  nothing  but  small,  dry 
wood  could  be  burnt  in  them. 

This  same  Spring,  a  farm  owned  by 
George  Flint,  Esq.,  of  North  Reading, 
was  rented,  and  we  moved  on  to  it 
April  1st.  Rent  $100. 

In  the  year  1816,  that  year  so  re- 
markable for  its  cold  spring,  in  which 
spots  were  seen  on  the  sun,  the  corn 
crop  was  nearly  destroyed  throughout 
New  England  by  frost.  This  produced 
a  scarcity  of  pigs,  as  few  farmers  kept 
a  hog  over  winter.  That  year,  pigs 
were  killed  that  could  not  be  allowed 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  147 

to  live  and  were  not  fit  to  die.  In  de- 
monstration of  this  assertion,  let  me 
state  a  fact :  one  man  actually  brought 
a  large  pig  to  David  Hart  and  exchang- 
ed it  for  a  small  one,  about  half  the 
size  of  his,  and  gave  50  cents  boot  mon- 
ey, because  the  little  one  would  eat  less 
during  the  whiter. 

The  first  of  August,  there  was  a 
great  cry  for  pigs.  I  said  to  neighbor 
Batchelder,  "  We  must  go  and  get  a 
drove  of  pigs." 

"  Where  shall  we  go  ? "  said  he. 

I  said,  "  Steer  South-west  and  go  till 
we  get  where  corn  ripened,  there  we 
shall  find  pigs." 

We  started  with  $500  in  our  pockets. 
On  the  third  day,  at  night,  friend  Batch- 
elder  became  discouraged,  saying,  we 
could  find  no  pigs,  as  every  one  we  in- 
quired of  wished  to  buy  rather  than 
sell.  Said  he,  "  We  will  call  for  fried 
pork  for  supper  to-night,  and  so  find 
out  whether  hogs  are  kept  in  this  vicin- 
ity." But  we  were  saved  from  that 


148  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

trouble  by  the  Innkeeper  inviting  us  to 
go  see  his  hog  before  going  into  the 
house.  It  was  a  grand  one,  a  pattern 
for  600  weight. 

We  kept  on  till  near  York  State  line, 
where  we  made  a  stand.  Mr.  Batchel- 
der,  a  plain,  honest  farmer,  not  a  trad- 
ing man,  changed  work  with  a  farmer 
there,  preferring  to  work  on  his  farm 
while  he  rode  about  buying  up  pigs. 

At  a  store  I  bought  fifteen  of  a  far- 
mer at  5  cents  per  lb.,  and  called  on 
the  store-keeper  to  witness  the  bargain. 
Soon  after  I  left,  our  farmer  agent  came 
up,  and  bought  the  same  pigs  at  6i  cts. 
per  lb.  Mr.  Batchelder,  hearing  that 
two  bargains  had  been  made,  feared 
hard  thoughts.  "  Keep  still,"  said  I, 
"  only  take  the  carriage  and  bring  the 
storekeeper  down  by  the  time  the  man 
gets  here  with  his  pigs,  and  there  will 
be  no  trouble."  He  did,  and  the  store- 
keeper took  down  the  weights  as  told 
off,  and  made  out  a  receipt,  which  I 
handed  to  the  farmer  to  sign  on  receipt 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  149 

of  his  money  at  five  cents  per  pound. 

The  agent  observed,  "  I  bought  those 
pigs  at  6j  cents." 

"  Well,"  said  I,  "  these  are  the  pigs 
I  bought  for  5  cents ;  if  you  have 
bought  any  of  him  for  6J  cents,  let 
him  bring  them  on  and  I  will  pay  for 
them."  Here  the  matter  ended  with- 
out a  dissenting  word.  This  may  show 
the  impropriety  of  trusting  strangers  to 
trade  for  you,  without  looking  sharply 
after  them. 

Another  note-worthy  circumstance. 
Old  men  told  us  that  it  made  no  differ- 
ence whether  a  pig  had  his  belly  full 
or  not,  when  weighed.  Wishing  to 
test  the  matter,  I  bargained  with  a 
widow,  who  lived  in  a  retired  nook, 
for  a  sow  and  two  pigs,  promising  to 
come  for  them  at  noon  the  next  day, 
I  told  her  not  to  give  them  any  din- 
ner, and  she  was  to  give  in  all  the  swill 
they  wanted  for  a  meal.  At  the  ap- 
pointed time  I  went  and  weighed  the 
pigs,  and  found  their  weight  to  be  70 


150  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

Ibs.  each.  I  then  gave  them  as  much 
swill  as  they  could  eat,  and  again  weigh- 
ed them.  This  time  they  weighed  79 
Ibs.  each.  Next  I  weighed  the  sow, 
and  then  the  swill-pail.  After  she  had 
eaten  her  fill,  she  weighed  16  Ibs.  more, 
and  the  pail  16  Ibs.  less.  This  showed 
conclusively  that  feed  weighs  the  same 
after  eaten  as  before. 

I  sold  that  same  sow  in  Sudbury  on 
the  banks  of  Concord  river,  to  a  tavern- 
keeper  for  12£  cents  per  lb.,  showing 
that  in  an  old  hog  the  difference  be- 
tween an  empty  and  a  full  belly,  at  this 
price,  is  $2. 

At  Brighton,  we  were  obliged  to  take 
special  care  to  prepare  the  pens  to  hold 
pigs,  this  being  the  first  drove  ever  dri- 
ven there  from  New  York  State,  al- 
though Smith  &  Reed,  from  Abington, 
came  in  soon  after,  with  a  drove. 

In  Brighton  we  retailed  a  hundred  to 
our  satisfaction.  On  our  way  toward 
Maiden,  Mr.  Batchelder,  a  fun-loving 
man,  observed  a  very  homely,  hump- 


WILMINGTON  FABMEB.  151 

backed  pig,  and  wondered  "  what  fool 
would  buy  it."  When  he  had  made 
what  sport  he  would  of  the  pig,  I 
said, 

"  If  you  will  say  nothing,  I  will  sell 
that  pig,  when  we  get  into  Maiden, 
higher  than  any  other  one,  and  tell  only 
the  truth — and  not  all  of  that." 

We  drove  to  the  town  pound,  shut 
in  the  pigs  and  offered  them  for  sale. 
To  buyers  we  said, 

"  Take  your  choice  for  12£  cts.  per 
pound  of  all  but  one.  I  have  one  pig 
here  I  ask  a  shilling  per  pound  for,  of 
a  particular  breed." 

"Which  is  he?" 

The  exclamation  would  be,  "  That 
will  make  a  600  hog.  What  breed  is 
it?" 

The  answer  was,  "  I  don't  know  the 
name  of  the  breed,  but  it  is  a  very  pa? 
ticular  breed." 

One  man  said,  "  I'll  give  14  cts.  per 
pound." 

"  I  cannot  take  it." 


152  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

He  then  said,.  "  I'll  give  fifteeen 
cents." 

This  was  taken,  and  he  drove  off  the 
pig.  I  never  heard  of  him  afterward ; 
hope  he  made  a  fine  hog. 

Young  men  think  of  this  when  you 
hear  particular  breeds  of  cattle  highly 
recommended.  Be  cautious  about  ex- 
pending large  sums,  until  experience 
proves  their  worth. 

Once  since  then,  I  had  a  pig  that 
much  resembled  the  above  named.  I 
could  not  get  rid  of  her  so  easily.  Of- 
fering her  to  a  man  for  $4  he  cried 
out,  "  I  won't  have  her  in  my  hog-sty 
at  any  rate.  If  you  would  put  her  in 
my  sty  for  nothing,  I  would  not  have 
her." 

That  pig  was  as  profitable,  if  not 
more  so,  as  any  that  I  ever  owned. 
She  brought  a  litter  of  9  pigs.  I  sold 
the  whole  for  $55.  The  owners  sold 
them  when  fattened  at  12£  cts.  per  lb., 
amounting  to  $375. 

For  five  or  six  years  I  was  called 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  153 

upon,  perhaps  once  a  year  on  an  av- 
erage, by  Master  Parker  and  David  to 
settle  their  animosities.  After  my  de- 
parture the  same  evil  spirit  reigned  in 
the  old  man,  and  Dave  partaking  of  a 
share  of  it,  and  living  in  the  same 
house,  and  working  together,  the  spells 
would  come  when  they  could  not  speak 
to  each  other,  After  a  while  they 
would  grow  tired  of  it,  and  one  would 
come  up  to  me,  tell  the  story  of  his 
wrongs,  and  entreat  me  to  come  down 
and  bring  about  a  treaty.  In  a  very 
few  days  the  other  would  come  on  the 
same  errand,  as  I  always  expected,  and 
then  knowing  both  parties  were  ready 
and  anxious  for  a  settlement,  I  would  go, 
carefully  hiding  from  each,  that  the  oth- 
er had  been  to  see  me.  Of  course  each 
considered  himself  the  sole  cause  of 
my  being  there,  and  I  presume  they 
never  learned  to  the  contrary.  When 
I  arrived,  I  always  had  a  talk  with  each 
one  separately.  There  never  was  but 
one  article  in  the  treaty ;  it  was  always 


154  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

the  same.  Mr.  Parker  would  say,  "  As 
David  is  my  son  it  is  his  place  to  speak 
first,  and  he  must  come  in  to  my  room 
to  do  it."  Dave  was  always  ready  to 
do  it,  when  informed  of  his  father's  de- 
sire. I  would  then  walk  into  the  room 
with  him  and  introduce  them  in  this 
way,  "  Mr.  Parker,  your  son  has  come 
to  see  you."  "  Good  evening,  father," 
Dave  would  say.  The  old  man  would 
jump  up  as  spry  as  a  boy,  and  shake 
hands  most  heartily  with  his  son  ;  and 
certainly  they  were,  for  the  time  being, 
as  happy  as  their  capacities  would  admit. 
It  always  affords  me  pleasure  to  be 
the  instrument  of  benefiting  those  who 
are  so  unfortunate  as  to  possess  such 
unhappy  dispositions.  If  any  person 
who  reads  this,  finds  himself  possessed 
of  a  disposition  leading  to  such  unhap- 
py results,  I  would  entreat  him  to  set 
about  an  amendment  in  his  own  soul. 
As  much  headway  can  be  gained  in 
laboring  to  improve  the  mind  as  in 
rooting  briars  out  of  the  land. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  155 

On  my  last  journey  to  New  York, 
when  about  to  leave,  I  went  into  a  Bro- 
ker's office  to  get  $5000  exchanged. 
Noticed  a  man  standing  outside  the 
counter,  who  appeared  to  have  no  busi- 
ness, but  at  the  time,  I  supposed  he 
had  finished  his  business  and  was  on 
some  account  waiting.  He  appeared 
to  listen  to  all  that  was  said,  and  heard 
the  money  told  out. 

"  When  do  you  leave  for  Boston?" 
said  the  broker. 

"  In  the  morning  stage,"  said  I. 

"  Who  are  your  acquaintances  in  this 
city  ? "  said  he. 

"  Stebbins  &  Couch,"  was  the  an- 
swer. 

"  You  could  not  be  acquainted  with 
better  men,"  said  he.  "  And  if  I  leave 
word  with  them  that  I  wish  you  to  call 
here  this  afternoon,  will  you  \  " 

"  Yes,"  was  the  answer. 

In  the  course  of  the  afternoon  Mr. 
Couch  said  to  me,  "  The  broker  who 
changed  your  money  for  you  has  been 


156  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

here  to  inquire  your  character ;  and 
wants  you  to  take  $5000  to  Oliver  C. 
Wyman,  State  street,  Boston.  I  told 
him  he  must  pay  your  stage-fare  to 
Boston,  and  he  will  do  it."  As  I  was 
about  to  leave,  Mr.  Couch  added,  "  Do 
not  be  at  that  stage  office  after  sunset, 
on  any  account." 

When  I  had  reached  the  door,  he 
said  again, 

"  Don't  you  be  at  that  stage  office  at 
sunset,  let  the  excuse  be  what  it  will, 
now  mind  what  I  say." 

From  there  I  went  to  the  broker's, 
took  his  $5000  and  put  it  in  my  trunk 
with  my  $5000.  He  then  gave  me  the 
money  to  pay  the  fare,  which  I  took  in 
my  hand,  and  walked  directly  to  the 
stage  office,  with  trunk  under  my  arm. 
It  was  situated  in  rear  of -a  block  of 
buildings  with  an  arch  leading  to  it. 
On  entering  I  saw  the  very  man  who 
I  had  before  seen  at  the  broker's  office. 
He  was  the  man  who  it  seems  did  busi- 
ness there,  for  he  was  behind  the  coun- 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  157 

ter  apparently  engaged  in  writing.  I 
stepped  near  and  said, 

"  Here  is  the  money  for  my  fare  to 
Boston,  and  I  would  like  to  have  the 
stage  call  for  me  at  the  sign  of  the  Roe- 
buck to-morrow.  Please  write  '  A.  G. 
Sheldon.' " 

"  Wait  one  minute  till  I  finish  this 
letter,  and  I  will  wait  upon  you." 

It  was  not  quite  sunset,  so  I  seated 
myself  near  the  door.  I  think  I  had  not 
been  seated  a  minute  before  a  woman 
came  in.  She  stepped  up,  paid  her 
fare  to  Hartford,  and  had  her  name  en- 
tered on  the  book  to  go  in  the  same 
stage  with  me.  I  could  see  no  reason 
why  my  name  could  not  be  written  as 
well  as  hers  ;  that  increased  my  fears. 
I  went  directly  up  and  laying  down 
my  pay  beside  hers,  not  stopping  to 
have  my  name  written,  passed  out  after 
the  woman.  As  I  laid  down  the  money 
he  observed, 

"  Only  wait  a  half  minute  and  I'll 
wait  on  you."  I  had  told  him  my  name. 


158  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

"  I'll  wait  no  longer,"  said  I,  and 
started  for  my  boarding-house.  Pass- 
ing by  the  Mall,  I  heard  footsteps  com- 
ing fast  behind  and  soon  the  same  man 
clapped  his  hand  on  my  shoulder, 
saying, 

"  You  made  a  great  mistake  when 
you  paid  your  fare ;  if  you  will  come 
back  I  will  rectify  it." 

"  I  can't  go  back,"  said  I. 

"  You  had  better  go  back,  for  you 
have  made  a  great  mistake,  and  I  don't 
want  your  money  for  nothing." 

This  increased  my  fears.  I  brought 
my  hand  to  my  bosom  suddenly,  saying 
with  vehemence, 

"  Take  your  hand  from  my  shoulder 
or  you  are  a  dead  man  in  one  minute." 
He  then  loosened  his  hold  and  turned 
back. 

The  next  morning  I  took  the  stage 
as  expected,  right  glad  to  escape  a  rob- 
bery. Indeed,  the  whole  reason  the 
broker  wished  to  send  $5000  to  Boston 
by  me,  was  for  fear  of  robbery,  as  sev- 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  159 

eral  had  been  perpetrated  about  that 
time,  on  the  mail.  My  journey  was 
anything  but  pleasant.  The  stage  run 
night  and  day.  I  was  sleepy  but  dared 
to  sleep  but  little,  not  knowing  whether 
I  was  with  friends  or  foes.  My  fear 
was  that  he  would  describe  me  to  some 
other  rogue,  and  set  him  out  in  the 
stage  after  me.  I  kept  the  trunk  in 
my  hand  when  riding,  and  my  foot  on 
it  while  eating.  Such  not  being  the 
case,  I  reached  Boston  safely  and  paid 
off  the  money. 

In  the  course  of  the  winter  an  event 
occurred  that  will  never  be  forgotten 
while  memory  retains  her  office.  So 
narrow  was  the  escape  from  a  sudden 
death,  or  being  wholly  smashed  up, 
that  when  I  look  back  upon  it  I  am 
filled  with  astonishment. 

I  set  out  with  a  team  of  4  steers  and 
a  horse,  and  a  load  of  15  feet  of  white 
pine  wood,  loaded  3  lengths  on  a  sled, 
one  afternoon,  to  Reading  market. 
Just  after  entering  the  turnpike,  south 


160  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

of  Jerry  Nichols'  tavern,  I  stepped  on 
to  the  roller  front  of  the  sled ;  that  in- 
stant the  hind  steers  beginning  to  trot, 
I  put  one  foot  out  on  to  the  spire  to 
start  the  forward  cattle,  at  the  same 
time  keeping  hold  of  a  stick  in  the  load 
with  my  left  hand.  The  stick  being 
short  gave  way,  pulled  out  and  I  fell 
my  length  on  the  spire,  rolling  off  the 
nigh  side.  My  first  thought  was  to 
brace  my  feet  against  the  wood  to  keep 
from  going  under  the  sled.  So  here  I 
lay  and  slid  upon  my  back,  so  near  the 
ox  that  every  time  his  foot  went  back 
it  touched  my  head.  A  large  body  of 
snow  was  upon  the  ground,  with  deep 
foot-paths  for  the  cattle,  and  hard,  high 
ridges  on  either  side.  Imagine  my 
feelings  in  this  perilous  situation,  with 
the  team  upon  the  run  and  but  one 
small  chance  of  escape  left  me.  I 
knew  there  was  a  foot-path  just  ahead 
where  Munroe,  a  neighbor,  crossed  the 
turnpike  for  water.  So  bearing  as 
much  as  possible  toward  the  right 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  161 

shoulder,  when  it  struck  the  path  I 
sprang  for  dear  life,  and  cleared  the 
sled-road.  I  stopped  the  team  and 
went  back  for  my  whip,  measured  the 
distance  and  found  it  eleven  rods. 

"  Bless  the   Lord,   O  my  soul,  and 
forget  not  all  his  benefits." 


162  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 


TENTH    LINK. 


My  residence  on  the  Flint  farm  em- 
braced 13  years,  during  which  I  carried 
on  butchering  to  considerable  extent, 
trusting  out  meat  largely,  and  in  the 
course  of  that  time  I  bought  and  paid 
for  515  acres  young  wood-land. 

Still  owing  some  large  debts,  and 
hard  times  coming  on,  creditors  pressed 
their  claims.  I  could  not  collect  my 
debts  fast  enough  to  satisfy  their  de- 
mands, and  a  failure  unavoidably  en- 
sued. My  real  estate  was  resigned  into 
the  hands  of  fourteen  of  my  largest 
creditors,  and  the  property  appraised 
off  at  a  very  low  rate,  but  sufficient  to 
cancel  all  debts  excepting  $34.  Had 
this  $34  been  paid,  it  would  have  clear- 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  163 

ed  me  from  these  debts,  but  I  had  no 
heart  to  ask  any  one  to  lend  it  to  me. 
Afterward,  when  through  the  disinter- 
ested kindness  of  friends  I  had  regain- 
ed a  footing  and  was  able  to  do  busi- 
ness again,  I  paid  over  $600  to  those 
same  creditors.  When  I  placed  those 
515  acres  of  beautiful  young  wood-land 
in  the  hands  of  these  fourteen  men,  I 
expected  they  would  manage  so  as  to 
make  themselves  whole  and  save  some- 
thing for  me.  But  such  was  not  the 
case.  They  selected  five  of  their  num- 
ber to  manage  the  business.  My  feel- 
ings can  be  better  imagined  than  de- 
scribed on  finding  that  their  whole  ami 
was  to  have  it  sell  as  low  as  possible 
and  buy  it  themselves. 

An  aged  and  venerable  minister  of 
the  gospel  being  present  at  the  auction, 
and  seeing  their  management,  said  to 
me,  "  Sheldon,  be  perfectly  honest 
yourself,  but  believe  every  man  a  devil." 

A  few  incidents  will  show  how  the 
matter  brought  about,  to  me,  unfortu- 


164  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

nate  results.  When  a  lot  of  nice  young 
wood,  of  nine  acres,  was  set  up,  it  was 
struck  off  for  $15.  I  persuaded  the 
buyer  to  give  me  the  refusal  of  it  for  a 
short  time  for  $60.  Before  the  time 
expired,  I  found  a  man  that  would  ad- 
vance me  the  money.  In  about  three 
years,  I  had  the  wood  cut  off  and  sold 
it  for  $100,  and  then  sold  the  bottom. 

Another  lot  sold  for  $2.10  per-  acre, 
that  has  been  worth  since  then  $100 
per  acre. 

One  of  the  largest  purchasers,  not  a 
creditor,  told  me  that  on  the  $500 
worth,  bought  at  that  auction,  he  clear- 
ed $1000 ;  and  two  of  the  creditors 
have  since  told  me  that  on  what  they 
bought  they  cleared  over  $1000. 

One  lot  lying  by  itself  sold  for  $30. 
This  sale  was  in  1830,  and  I  have  been 
credibly  informed  that  the  wood  on  this 
same  lot,  in  the  year  1860,  sold  for 
$900. 

I  would  here  insert  an  observation 
made  by  Edmund  Parker,  Esq.,  well 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  165 

known  as  a  man  of  integrity  and  can- 
dor, who  assisted  the  creditors  in  their 
business,  and  who  was  their  counselor. 
Said  he,  "  If  your  creditors  would  let 
you  alone  three  years,  you  could  pay 
every  debt  and  still  have  the  founda- 
tion of  as  great  wealth  as  any  man  in 
North  Eeading." 

I  should  be  untrue  to  myself  did  I 
not  mention  the  names  of  three  gen- 
tlemen to  whose  disinterested  sympathy 
and  assistance,  I  owe  more  than  to  all 
others.  "  A  friend  in  need,  is  a  friend 
indeed."  Well  have  I  seen  this  prov- 
erb verified  in  the  troublous  times  that 
I  have  been  called  upon  to  pass  through. 
These  men  were  David  M.  Russell, 
then  of  Plymouth,  N.  H.,  now  of  Ala- 
bama ;  Ebenezer  Emerson,  of  Reading  ; 
and  Samuel  W.  Carter,  of  Reading. 
Nathaniel  Parker,  of  Reading,  would 
gladly  have  rendered  assistance,  but 
had  not  the  means. 

I  fully  believe  in  the  common  asser- 
tion that  many,  very  many,  men  fail  to 


166  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

make  money  by  cheating  their  honest 
creditors ;  but  I  do  know  that  an  hon- 
est man  would  give  but  little  for  his 
choice,  either  to  die  or  ask  his  credi- 
tors to  take  less  than  one  hundred  cents 
on  the  dollar. 

Let  me  caution  young  men  to  look 
closely  after  their  affairs,  and  always 
know  how  they  stand,  and  be  sure  not 
to  get  so  deeply  in  debt  that  if  hard 
times  come  unexpectedly  you  may  be 
able  to  handle  your  property  and  not 
trust  it  to  the  management  of  others. 

My  first  introduction  to  the  Baldwin 
family  was  by  this  circumstance.  Go- 
ing up  to  Milford,  N.  H.,  on  business, 
I  stopped  for  breakfast  in  Tyngsboro'. 
While  eating,  a  stranger  walked  in  and 
informed  me  that  counterfeit  $5  bills 
on  Salem  Bank  were  plentifully  circu- 
lated in  Andover.  The  news  startled 
me,  as  I  had  $50  of  that  money  with 
me  and  no  other.  I  then  offered  the 
landlord  one  of  the  bills  to  pay  for  my 
breakfast.  He  refused,  upon  which  I 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  167 

pawned  my  pocket  book  and  departed. 

I  stopped  next  at  Farewell  Tavern, 
South  Merrimack,  and  stated  what  had 
met  my  ears  that  day,  when  a  tall,  el- 
derly gentleman  asked  my  name,  where 
I  was  from,  and  if  I  knew  any  one  in 
Woburn.  I  replied,  "  I  know  Col. 
Franklin  Baldwin." 

"  He  is  a  brother  of  mine,"  he  re- 
plied. 

"  Give  this  man  some  dinner,  and  I 
will  pay  for  it,"  said  he,  to  the  Inn- 
keeper, and  turning  to  me  continued, 
"  I  will  exchange  one  of  your  bills, 
which  no  doubt  are  good,  and  give  you 
money  that  is  indisputable,  and  wish 
you  to  call  and  see  me  on  your  return." 

The  gentleman  was  no  other  than 
Cyrus  Baldwin,  of  Chelmsford.  Rest 
assured  this  was  a  great  relief  to  me, 
being,  as  I  was,  among  strangers,  with 
no  money  but  what  had  been  condemn- 
ed as  counterfeit.  Ever  since  this  time, 
the  name  of  Baldwin  has  sounded  plea- 
santly in  my  ear. 


168  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

My  next  interview  with  the  family 
was  by  an  appointment  to  meet  James 
F.  Baldwin,  brother  of  Cyrus,  in  a 
wood-lot  of  his.  I  bought  the  stand- 
ing wood  and  timber,  and  one  day  go- 
ing into  the  lot,  met  Mr.  Baldwin,  who 
said  to  me, 

"  What  are  you  going  after  now, 
Sheldon?" 

I  answered,  "  After  the  largest  stick 
of  timber  in  the  lot." 

"  Do  you  expect  to  load  it  alone  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  do  with  the  help  of  these 
oxen." 

"  How  long  do  you  expect  it  will 
take  to  load  it  ?  " 

"  If  I  have  good  luck,  I  expect  to 
load  it  in  an  hour." 

"  If  I  thought  you  could  load  it  in 
an  hour,  I  would  go  back  and  see  you 
do  it." 

"  I  think  there  is  no  doubt  but  what 
I  shall." 

He  went  back  and  sat  down  on  a 
stump,  took  out  his  watch  and  said  that 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  169 

it  was  twenty  minutes  from  the  time  the 
oxen  stopped  when  I  started  them  again 
with  the  load  all  properly  bound,  ready 
for  market. 

He  then  said  he  was  Engineer  on  the 
Boston  &  Lowell  Railroad,  and  wished 
me  to  come  to  Boston  and  take  a  job. 

"  I  have  not  means  to  carry  on  a 
job,"  said  I. 

"  James  Jaques  said  he  would  like  to 
take  a  job  with  you,"  said  he,  and  if 
you  will  come  and  take  one,  and  man- 
age as  well  as  you  did  loading  this  tim- 
ber, if  you  do  not  make  day  wages,  I 
will  consider  you,  for  I  have  power  to 
consider  contractors,  if  the  work  turns 
out  more  difficult  than  was  expected." 

The  job  of  grading  more  than  one 
and  one-half  miles  of  railroad,  together 
with  the  stone-work,  was  agreed  upon, 
in  company  with  Jaques.  While  with 
him  the  work  dragged  heavily ;  but 
subsequently  he  was  exchanged  for 
Isaac  Flint  of  North  Reading,  and  then 
the  work  went  on  satisfactorily.  The 


170  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

job  was  taken  of  Jackson,  Railroad 
Agent. 

The  next  year  Mr.  Jackson  said  to 
me, 

"  Sheldon  I  shall  not  let  you  any  job 
on  the  railroad  this  year,  because  I 
want  you  to  work  by  the  day  where- 
ever  and  whenever  you  are  wanted." 

That  season  I  worked  forty  oxen  and 
fifty  men  for  him  by  the  day,  nearly 
all  the  time ;  on  an  average  more. 

The  third  year  I  was  employed  by 
the  same  men  in  stone-work  and  laying 
rails.  On  a  certain  occasion  Jackson 
came  along  inspecting  the  work.  One 
stone  standing  out  prominently,  he  took 
occasion  to  find  fault  in  sharp  tones.  I 
told  him  to  wait  fifteen  minutes  and  I 
would  show  him  the  utility  of  its  loca- 
tion. He  waited,  and  then  expressed 
himself  with  much  satisfaction  saying, 

"  Sheldon,  I  will  give  you  my  word 
that  you  shall  never  pay  anything  for 
riding  on  this  road,  as  long  as  your 
stone-work  holds  good." 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  171 

This  declaration  was  as  good  as  a 
bond  to  me,  till  the  year  1861,  long 
after  Jackson's  death. 

I  have  hopes  by  an  interview  with 
the  officers  and  agents  on  the  road,  to 
procure  a  life-long  ticket,  for  I  have 
no  doubt  if  they  knew  the  conditions 
on  which  the  promise  was  made  they 
would  freely  award  me  the  privilege  of 
riding  free. 

In  the  spring  of  1835,  I  received  a 
letter  from  Jackson,  desiring  me  to 
come  to  Boston,  stating  that  he  had  a 
week's  work  for  me  to  do.  When  there, 
he  informed  me  that  he  wished  me  to 
ascertain  what  it  would  cost  to  move 
Pemberton  Hill  into  salt  water,  north 
side  of  Causeway  street. 

After  probing  the  hill  in  several 
places  and  walking  over  the  ground  as 
fast  as  an  ox  team  would  walk,  to  as- 
certain how  many  times  they  could  go 
in  a  day,  the  result  of  my  investigations 
was  that  it  could  be  done  for  25  cents 
per  yard, 


172  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

He  then  told  me  he  was  agent  for  a 
company  and  expected  to  buy  the  Hill, 
but  the  bargain  was  not  concluded  upon, 
but  it  would  be  in  a  few  days ;  and 
further,  said  he, 

"  I  shall  want  you  to  do  it  by  the 
day,  for  I  don't  expect  to  get  any  body 
to  do  it  by  the  job  quick  enough,  for  it 
must  be  done  in  six  months.  If  you 
should  do  the  work,  would  you  do  it 
with  oxen  or  with  horses  ? " 

"  I  shall  do  it  with  oxen." 

"  Give  me  your  reasons  why  you 
should  do  it  with  oxen  1 " 

"  The  job  is  short,  and  when  done 
the  oxen  can  be  driven  to,Brighton  and 
sold  at  a  fair  price,  while  horses  would 
eat  out  half  their  bodies  before  we 
could  make  sale  of  them.  And  anoth- 
er reason,  it  does  not  cost  so  much  to 
harness  twelve  oxen  as  it  does  one 
horse." 

"  Your  reasons  are  good,"  said  he. 

I  was  in  Boston  four  days.  He  paid 
me  for  a  week's  work  and  I  came  home. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  173 

Another  letter  was  soon  received  re- 
questing my  presence  in  Boston.  I 
repaired  thither  when  he  informed  me 
that  another  man  had  offered  to  take 
the  whole  concern  by  the  job,  and 
said, 

"  It  is  against  our  rules  to  have  any 
work  done  by  the  day  that  we  can  let 
out  by  the  job.  Can't  you  take  it  by 
the  job?" 

"  No,"  said  I. 

"Why  not  ?"  said  he. 

I  answered,  "  Because  I  have  al- 
ready shown  you  that  it  will  take  $7000 
to  start  the  job,  and  $3000  more,  mak- 
ing $10,000  before  you  will  be  willing 
to  pay  one  cent,  as  you  make  payments 
monthly.  And  I  have  not  got  the 
money." 

"Perhaps  you  will  find  some  one 
who  has  the  money  to  join  you  I " 

I  told  him  I  should  not  try,  and  we 
parted. 

Coming  home  I  met  Charles  Carter, 
Esq.,  in  Woburn.  He  said, 


174  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

"  Are  you  going  to  do  that  job  in 
Boston?" 

"  No,"  said  I. 

"Why  not  ?" 

"  Because  it  is  going  to  be  let  by  the 
yard,  and  I  have  not  the  means  to  do  it." 

"  How  much  money  will  it  take  1 " 
said  he. 

"$7000  to  start  it,  and  $3000  more 
before  we  get  the  first  payment." 

"  I  can  raise  the  money,"  said  he, 
"  if  we  can  get  a  good  job." 

We  looked  at  the  work  jointly  and 
agreed  to  take  it  at  28  cents  per  yard. 
He  furnished  $1200,  and  I  expended  it 
all  in  oxen. 

I  started  for  Boston  with  the  teams 
and  met  Carter  a  few  rods  beyond  his 
house.  He  said,  "  I  want  the  whole 
job  to  myself,  and  I  will  hire  you  to 
take  care  of  the  teams." 

At  that  time  I  owed  him  four  notes 
of  $100  each,  which  he  agreed  to  give 
me,  if  I  would  let  him  have  the  whole 
job,  and  work  for  him  for  $2.50  per 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  175 

day  and  he  board  me.  I  then  said  to 
him,  "  I  will  go  back  with  you  and 
take  the  notes." 

"  I  can't  give  them  to  you  to-night, 
for  they  are  in  the  Bank,  but  you  shall 
have  them  within  forty-eight  hours." 

I  then  commenced  work  on  the  hill, 
it  being  May  5th,  1835.  On  the  third 
day,  Jackson  came  and  said  that  the 
contract  must  be  signed  at  12  o'clock 
that  day  or  the  work  stop. 

Carter  made  for  the  office  and  I  kept 
him  company.  Jackson  read  the  con- 
tract and  said,  "  Is  that  right,  Carter  V 
He  replied,  "  I  think  it  is." 

"  Then  there  is  nothing  to  do  but  to 
sign  it." 

"  I  don't  think  it  worth  while,"  said 
Carter. 

"  What  does  this  mean,  Sheldon," 
said  Jackson,  "  didn't  you  tell  me  that 
that  earth  could  be  moved  for  25  cents, 
and  didn't  I  agree  to  give  you  28  cents, 
and  now  you  say  you  can't  do  it." 

"  I  have  said  no  such  thing,"  said  I. 


176  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

"  Then  what  do  you  say  1 " 

"  It  can  be  moved  full  as  easy  as  I 
ever  expected,"  said  I. 

"  I  told  you  the  teams  could  draw 
twelve  loads  per  day,  I  now  find  they 
can  draw  fourteen  loads  per  day." 

Carter  then  wished  to  see  me  alone. 
He  asked  me  if  I  was  willing  to  give 
up  the  last  bargain  and  we  do  the  work 
in  company.  I  told  him,  "  No." 

Jackson  soon  came  and  told  me  to 
tell  Carter,  that  if  he  would  let  me 
work  the  teams  and  men  that  after- 
noon, he  would  pay  for  the  work. 

Mr.  Jackson  and  Baldwin  were  both 
on  the  work  the  whole  afternoon,  and 
at  night  Jackson  said  to  me,  "  I  am 
satisfied  you  can  do  all  you  have  told 
me  and  more  too.  You  may  buy  of 
Carter  every  ox  that  you  want,  and 
every  thing  he  has  that  you  want,  and 
tell  him  he  shall  have  his  money  next 
Tuesday.  If  you  had  the  money,  would 
you  do  the  job  I  " 

"  Yes,"  said  I. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  177 

"  You  shall  have  it.  Notify  the  men 
that  you  shall  want  them  all  Monday 
morning." 

By  an  early  start  I  was  at  Jackson's 
house  before  sunrise  on  Monday  morn- 
ing. "  Do  you  want  me  to  step  into 
Carter's  shoes,"  said  he,  "  and  find 
money  and  you  do  the  work  and  have 
half  the  profits  ? " 

"  Yes  ;  but  one  thing  more,  if  there 
is  a  loss  in  it  I  will  lose  only  my  time." 

To  this  he  finally  agreed,  saying, 
"  You  always  make  me  do  just  as  you 
please.  Now,  as  soon  as  you  get  men 
and  teams  to  work,  come  to  my  office." 

When  at  the  office,  "  Now,"  said  he, 
"  I  have  a  short  lesson  to  give  you : 
remember,  this  work  is  to  be  done  on 
your  judgment,  not  on  mine.  If  I 
think  you  are  doing  wrong  and  tell  you 
so,  don't  you  alter  unless  I  convince  you 
of  the  wrong.  Don't  say,  you  should 
not  have  done  this  or  that  if  I  had  not 
told  you  so.  Some  people  think  be- 
cause they  find  funds  to  do  a  job  they 


178  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON 

must  dictate,  when  they  know  nothing 
about  it,  and  thus  spoil  the  work.  Re- 
member, this  job  must  be  done  in  six 
months.  How  much  money  do  you 
want  to-day  to  buy  oxen  with  at  Brigh- 
ton." 

He  then  gave  me  a  check  for  $1000. 
I  started  a  man  to  North  Andover,  to 
Ingalls'  the  yoke  maker,  to  bring  yokes 
and  bows  enough  for  thirty  yoke  of 
oxen.  I  then  proceeded  to  Brighton 
and  bought  ten  yoke  of  cattle  that  day. 
Ingalls  was  at  my  place  in  Boston  be- 
fore sunrise  the  next  morning,  with 
more  yokes  than  I  sent  for,  but  no  more 
than  was  wanted. 

We  now  had  about  half  as  many 
oxen  as  needed,  but  as  many  as  we  had 
carts  for  then.  As  carts  could  not  be 
made  as  fast  as  wanted,  I  procured  two 
men  of  sound  judgment,  —  Abner  Mar- 
ion, of  Burlington,  and  Eben  Emer- 
son, of  Reading, —  and  sent  them  about 
in  the  neighboring  towns  to  buy  good 
second-hand  carts  and  wagons.  They 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  179 

succeeded   well,  making  no  bad  bar- 
gains, both  being  careful  men. 

I  then  issued  the  following  advertise- 
ment : 

"  WANTED— TWENTY  YOKE 
OF  THE  BEST  WORKING  OXEN,  AT 
PEMBERTON  HILL,  BOSTON,  FOR 
WHICH  A  FAIR  PRICE  WILL  BE 
PAID  IN  CASH.  NONE  BUT  THOSE 
THAT  CAN  TRAVEL  ON  PAVEMENTS 
NEED  BE  OFFERED." 

This  was  the  season  of  the  year  when 
farmers  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston  were 
finishing  up  their  heavy  spring  work ; 
consequently  I  had  as  many  oxen  offer- 
ed as  wanted,  having  no  occasion  to  go 
out  to  buy. 

I  boarded  my  first  week  at  Glasier's 
Tavern;  paid  my  bill  every  morning 
and  inquired  if  I  could  board  there 
another  day.  I  wore  my  teamster's 
blue  and  white  striped  frock,  and  in 
this  disguise  could  hear  at  table  many 
curious  observations  on  the  moving  of 
Pemberton  Hill  with  oxen. 

One  stated,  "  These  oxen  will  have 


180  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON: 

their  tongues  out  as  long  as  your  arm, 
and  in  three  weeks  he  wont  be  able  to 
get  them  through  the  streets." 

Another  said, "  I  understand  the  man 
came  from  Wilmington,  a  sandy  town, 
and  I  expect  he  don't  know  but  that 
oxen  can  travel  on  pavements  as  well 
as  in  Wilmington  sand." 

As  the  work  was  a  novel  job,  many 
spectators  were  attracted  to  the  scene 
of  operations.  They  were  of  all  grades, 
from  the  highest  to  the  lowest,  among 
them  many  country  teamsters,  whip  in 
hand.  To  hear  the  observations,  I  one 
day  ascended  with  the  throng  on  the 
back  side  of  the  hill,  in  my  usual  dis- 
guise, and  took  my  stand  by  the  smart- 
est looking  man  in  the  foremost  rank, 
which  was  then  several  courses  deep, 
when  he  thus  addressed  me, 

"This  is  a  tremendous  piece  of  work." 

"  It  looks  to  me  to  be  so,"  I  answered. 

"  I  understand  that  the  man  who  has 
taken  this  job,  has  agreed  to  do  it  in 
six  months  ;  do  you  know  if  it  is  so  I " 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  181 

"  I  understand  he  has,"  was  my  ans- 
wer. 

"  Then  he  is  a  fool,  let  him  be  who 
he  will.  He  can't  do  it  in  three  years, 
if  he  employs  all  the  men  and  teams  he 
can  work  on  it." 

In  this  connection  it  may  not  be  un- 
interesting to  give  a  description  of  Pem- 
berton  Hill.  The  whole  area,  includ- 
ing Streets  adjoining,  was  upwards  of 
four  acres,  and  it  made  in  the  water, 
eight  acres,  fourteen  feet  deep.  Depth 
of  hill,  from  the  highest  point,  was  six- 
ty-five feet  and  ten  inches.  This  was 
the  point  where  Gardner  Green's  green 
house  stood.  Six  dwelling  houses 
and  other  out-buildings,  besides  im- 
mense shrubbery,  together  with  several 
English  elms  that  were  carried  to  the 
navy-yard,  were  sold  from  the  ground. 
One  gingo  tree,  an  exotic,  and  I  expect 
the  only  tree  of  the  kind  in  this  coun- 
try, I  was  offered  $300  to  move  and 
warrant  to  live  one  year.  I  thought  at 
that  time,  that  it  contained  about  two 


182  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

feet  of  cord  wood,  and  it  being  in  the 
month  of  June,  I  dared  not  undertake 
it.  However  it  was  moved,  and  now 
stands  on  the  Common,  near  the  State 
House  and  is  thriving. 

These  buildings  had  been  the  resi- 
dences of  distinguished  gentlemen — 
Gardner  Green,  Dr.  Lloyd  and  Gov. 
Phillips.  There  were  two  other  beau- 
tiful brick  buildings  on  Somerset  street 
sold  and  torn  down,  whose  owners  I 
never  knew.  I  will  now  note  a  few 
things  by  me  deemed  curiosities. 

The  Dr.  Lloyd  house  stood  on  the 
lowest  ground  of  any,  with  a  well  thir- 
ty feet  deep  and  not  a  drop  of  water  in 
it.  The  Gardner  Green  well  stood  a 
few  rods  from  it  on  a  little  higher 
ground.  The  top  of  the  water  in  this 
well  was  thirty-five  feet  higher  than 
the  base  of  the  ground  at  the  cut  near 
the  well.  When  working  very  near  the 
water  gushed  out  and  formed  a  brook 
that  ran  down  to  Hanover  street.  As 
we  watered  our  cattle  from  it,  the 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  183 

stream  would  stop  running  in  the  day 
but  fill  up  and  run  again  in  the  night. 
Opposite  the  head  of  Court  street,  about 
five  feet  from  the  surface  we  struck  a 
a  flat  stone.  On  turning  it  a  well  thir- 
ty feet  deep  was  discovered.  On  lis- 
tening, running  water  could  be  distinct- 
ly heard.  We  ascertained  that  it  came 
in,  fifteen  feet  from  the  top  and  run 
directly  out  at  the  bottom.  Our  grading 
was  five  feet  below  the  flat  stone.  We 
filled  up  with  clay,  the  water  still  run- 
ning, puddled  it  in  so  compactly  that 
in  one  night  the  well  was  filled  to  over- 
flowing. The  next  day  it  was  filled  to 
the  top,  that  kept  the  water  down. 

This  place  is  now  called  Pemberton 
Square. 

Near  the  centre  of  the  green  en- 
closed by  the  Square,  after  taking  off 
about  fifty-five  feet  of  solid  gravel,  a 
heavy  load  of  gravel  passing,  suddenly 
all  four  of  the  wheels  dropped  to  the 
hub.  The  gravel  was  quickly  shovelled 
out  of  the  wagon,  when  on  procuring 


1 84  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

an  iron  rod,  the  mud  was  found  to  be 
common  marsh  mud,  fifteen  feet  deep, 
of  an  oval  form  and  entirely  covered 
with  gravel.  This  must  have  been 
done  by  some  convulsion  in  nature. 
At  Jackson's  suggestion  we  excavated 
the  mud,  six  feet  in  depth  and  filled 
with  gravel. 

When  at  the  Phillips'  place  we  found 
an  iron  door  in  the  cellar,  that  led  to 
an  arch  about  twelve  feet  wide  on  the 
base,  fifty  feet  long  and  nine  feet  high. 
I  remember  well  measuring  it,  and 
found  plenty  of  room  for  sixteen  large 
oxen  and  space  to  feed  them  ;  but  fear- 
ing they  would  not  do  so  well  in  this 
subterranean  cell  as  in  a  barn,  did  not 
put  it  to  that  purpose.  This  arch  was 
made  of  brick,  sixteen  inches  in  thick- 
ness, so  firmly  cemented  that  much 
labor  was  required  to  prepare  it  for 
loading  into  our  carts.  So  true  it  is, 
one  man  builds  and  another  demolishes. 
Of  the  original  design  of  this  subter- 
ranean arch,  I  leave  my  readers  to 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  185 

judge  for  themselves,  as  I  do  for  my- 
self. It  occurs  to  my  mind  that  rich 
men  do  not  always  comply  with  the 
letter  of  the  law,  especially  when  they 
have  a  convenient  place  in  which  to 
secrete  smuggled  goods. 

From  the  cellar  of  one  of  the  brick 
houses  an  iron  door  opened  into  a  sep- 
ulchre or  tomb,  from  which,  I  think, 
fifteen  coffins,  large  and  small,  were 
taken  the  night  before  we  had  leave  to 
occupy  it.  This  information  was  re- 
ceived from  Mr.  Hersey  a  man  in  city 
employ,  who  helped  convey  them  to 
another  tomb.  On  the  outside,  on  the 
tomb  were  beautiful  cultivated  flowers. 
However  others  may  think  on  the  sub- 
ject, it  is  quite  ungenial  to  the  feelings 
of  the  writer  to  have  dear,  departed 
friends  lying  under  a  dwelling-house 
or  so  immediately  connected  with  it. 
The  most  proper  place  to  lay  the  dead 
for  their  last  resting-place  is  in  the 
common  burning-ground. 

Some  time  previous,  a  crew  of  Span- 


186  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

ish  pirates  were  captured  and  brought 
into  port  at  Boston.  They  were  sub- 
sequently tried,  and  Bernardo  De  Soto 
and  four  others  were  condemned  and 
sentenced  to  suffer  the  penalty  of  the 
law  due  to  their  crimes,  viz  :  to  hang 
by  their  necks  till  they  were  dead. 

While  in  jail,  awaiting  their  doom, 
one  of  the  number,  to  speed  on  his 
release  from  earth,  pierced  his  arm  with 
a  piece  of  glass,  causing  much  blood  to 
flow  and  such  a  state  of  debilitation 
that  the  poor  deluded  man  was  carried 
to  the  place  of  execution  in  a  chair,  and 
there  sat  to  hear  the  service  and  have 
the  halter  placed  round  his  neck,  and 
dropped  with  the  rest.  Oh,  sad,  sad 
and  mournful  affair.  Yet  we  would 
not  wish  to  have  capital  punishment 
abolished, but  rather  carry  out  the  Scrip- 
ture rule,  "He  that  sheddeth  man's 
blood,  by  man  shall  his  blood  be  shed." 
No,  the  world  is  not  good  enough  to  do 
away  with  capital  punishment  yet. 

The  pirates  were  hanged  on  a  gal- 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  187 

lows  erected  on  my  land  by  the  United 
States  Marshal.  I  had  built  three  barns 
temporarily  for  the  use  of  my  oxen. 
There  were  fifty  tied  in  one  barn,  twen- 
ty-five in  a  row.  The  teamsters  were 
set  to  guard  them,  and  two  men  were 
stationed  on  the  top  to  keep  spectators 
off,  each  with  a  pitchfork,  and  with 
directions,  if  they  failed,  to  have  the 
cattle  turned  out.  Rowdies  and  ill- 
bred  boys  pressed  so  hard  upon  the 
men  on  top,  and  beginning  to  throw 
stones,  that  they  shouted  to  the  team- 
sters below  to  turn  out  the  oxen.  No 
sooner  said  than  done,  when  one  of  the 
top  men  jumped  off,  crying,  "  Now 
you  may  all  go  to  h — 1  if  you  please." 
The  roof  was  covered  as  fast  as  possi- 
ble, when,  crash,  down  came  the  whole 
frame,  breaking  one  man's  arm.  No 
teaming  work  could  be  done  in  Boston 
on  such  days  as  this,  or  on  holidays. 

That  night  application  was  made  to 
me  for  a  team  to  carry  the  pirates'  life- 
less bodies  to  the  Catholic  Burying- 


188  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

ground,  Charlestown,  and  with  them 
an  Irishman  killed  on  the  railroad.  I 
accordingly  sent  one  man  with  a  yoke 
of  oxen,  and  six  men  for  guard.  The 
oxen,  passive  before,  expressed  fear  as 
soon  as  the  bodies  were  put  in,  and 
could  be  restrained  from  running  only 
by  two  men  going  before  them  with 
clubs.  Whether  they  were  frightened 
by  something  natural  or  supernatural, 
is  beyond  my  conjecture.  Perhaps,  like 
Balaam's  ass,  they  saw  that  which  hu- 
man eyes  could  not  discover. 

The  next  day  I  made  out  a  bill  like 
this, —  "United  States  Marshal,  Dr., 
To  A.  G.  Sheldon:  To  damage  done  to 
barn,  .  .  .  $50 ; "  and  presented  it  to 
the  Marshal.  He  looked  at  it  and  said, 
"  I  can  pay  no  such  bills."  I  then  re- 
quested the  use  of  a  slip  of  paper,  pen 
and  ink,  and  then  wrote, — "  United 
States  Marshal,  Dr.,  To  A.  G.  Sheldon, 
To  use  of  land  to  hang  5  pirates,  and 
damages  sustained  thereby,  .  .  .  $75." 
This  suited  him,  and  he  paid  the  money. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  189 


ELEVENTH    LINK. 


We  will  now  return  to  the  work  on 
the  hill.  In  about  ten  days  Dr.  Lloyd's 
house  was  sold  at  auction.  I  bid  it  off, 
moved  my  chattels  in  that  night,  and 
next  morning  sixty  Yankee  men  took 
breakfast  in  it.  For  shovelling,  we 
employed  Irishmen  wholly,  they  board- 
ing themselves. 

When  Dr.  Shurtleff,  our  nearest 
neighbor,  saw  that  the  house  was  sold 
for  what  he  called  a  shanty,  he  express- 
ed many  fears  lest  he  should  be  troubl- 
ed with  noise.  He  said,  "  I  could  not 
have  thought  that  of  Patrick  T.  Jack- 
son, that  he  would  allow  the  house  to 
be  sold  for  that  purpose." 

Subsequently  he  inquired,    "  When 


190  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

are  you  going  to  get  your  men  on, 
Sheldon  ? " 

I  said,  "  Have  you  been  disturbed 
by  their  noise,  Doctor  ?  " 

"  No,  I  have  not  heard  any  noise." 

"  The  morning  after  I  bought  the 
house,  sixty  men  ate  breakfast  there, 
and  have  boarded  there  ever  since." 

"  If  that  be  the  case,"  said  he,  "I'll 
borrow  no  more  trouble  about  the 
noise." 

The  doctor  proved  himself  a  kind 
friend  and  neighbor,  coming  in  often 
with  Jackson  and  Baldwin  to  dine  on 
baked  beans.  He  was  extremely  fond 
of  brown  bread  and  butter,  which  we 
had  of  an  excellent  quality  ;  and  when 
any  of  the  men  were  hurt  or  required 
medical  aid,  he  tendered  his  services 
without  remuneration. 

About  the  first  of  June  our  ranks 
were  filled.  The  whole  number  of 
oxen  being  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
six  ;  whole  number  of  hands  about  two 
hundred  and  fifty  when  at  the  highest 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  191 

pitch,  —  sixty  Yankees  and  one  hun- 
dred and  ninety  Irish. 

We  soon  found  from  experience  that 
long  and  narrow  wagons  run  the  best. 
What  may  be  called  sloven  bodies  were 
used  with  a  side-board  so  fixed  that  it 
could  be  quickly  started  with  two  iron 
bars,  and  the  entire  load  slide  off  in 
about  a  minute,  on  an  average.  One 
man  would  drive  two  yoke  of  oxen 
with  a  wagon  and  two  yards  of  gravel, 
while  it  took  two  men  and  two  yoke  of 
oxen  to  carry  the  same  amount  in  carts. 
To  satisfy  the  curious,  we  had  one  of 
the  wagon  load  weighed  on  the  hay 
scales,  weight  over  seven  tons. 

In  my  employ  were  forty  teamsters. 
I  began  to  realize  how  much  the  work 
depended  on  their  holding  on,  when  I 
found  the  country  farmers  would  try  to 
hire  them  for  haying,  with  the  promise 
of  $1.50  per  day. 

One  man,  who  had  charge  of  the 
barn  and  cattle  feed,  was  used  as  a  re- 
porter, and  I  do  not  think  that  the  men 


192  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

ever  mistrusted  he  held  that  office. 
One  night  he  said,  "  The  teamsters 
have  all  agreed  to  leave  as  soon  as  they 
get  their  pay  for  the  month  of  June." 

I  then  began  to  try  my  brains  to  dis- 
cover what  could  be  done.  When  pay- 
day came  I  called  them  all  in  together 
and  said, 

"  You  know  I  hired  you  for  the 
whole  job.  But  it  is  dirty,  unpleasant 
work  compared  with  haying ;  and  I 
know  wages  are  some  higher  than  when 
I  hired  you.  Now  boys  I  shall  give 
every  one  of  you  $26  for  the  month  of 
July,  which  is  $6  more  than  I  agreed 
to  pay,  but  for  my  own  security  shall 
keep  back  $5  of  this  month's  wages 
until  the  job  is  completed." 

The  next  day  the  reporter  told  that 
they  had  all  agreed  to  stay,  to  a  man. 
They  said,  "  The  old  man  was  so  good 
without  knowing  they  had  agreed  to  go 
away,  it  would  be  too  bad  to  leave 
him." 

I  will  here  acknowledge  this  was  the 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  193 

most  trying  circumstance  in  the  whole 
job,  and  when  it  was  settled  my  uneasi- 
ness subsided. 

Now  another  difficulty  arose.  The 
dust  proved  insufferable  to  those  who 
lived  on  the  streets  through  which  we 
passed,  and  much  annoyed  the  cattle 
and  men.  After  some  consultation  with 
individuals,  and  with  the  Mayor,  it 
was  decided  that  I  should  pay  $1.50 
per  day  toward  sprinkling  the  streets 
and  they  would  keep  them  wet,  much 
for  the  comfort  of  the  men  and  the  cat- 
tle's feet. 

About  this  time  Mr.  Jackson  said  to 
me, 

"  Sheldon,  if  you  could  have  some- 
thing extra,  could  you  do  this  work  in 
five  months  instead  of  six." 

"  Yes,  I  think  I  could." 

"  Remember,"  said  he,  "  you  are 
trading  for  me  and  yourself,  while  I  am 
trading  for  the  company.  How  much 
extra  shall  I  give  you  to  do  it  in  five 
months  ? " 


194  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

"  Let  me  think  till  morning  and  I 
will  tell  you." 

In  the  morning  he  said,  "  Have  you 
made  up  your  mind  ? " 

"  Yes,  give  me  an  extra  $1000  and 
it  shall  be  done  in  five  months." 

"  At  noon  I  will  give  my  answer," 
said  he. 

At  noon  he  told  me  he  would  comply 
with  my  terms  and  give  $1000. 

"  Now  Sheldon,"  said  he,  "  you  may 
work  as  hard  as  you  please,  but  don't 
kill  yourself.  This  job  has  been  the 
least  trouble  to  me  of  any  job  of  such 
magnitude  I  ever  had  any  thing  to  do 
with." 

The  commencement  of  this  monster 
job  was  in  May.  The  first  shovel  full 
of  dirt  was  thrown  out  on  the  morning 
of  May  5,  between  7  and  8  o'clock ; 
and  the  last  shovel  full  on  Oct.  5,  be- 
tween 7  and  8  o'clock  in  the  morning. 
As  the  owners  of  this  land  feared  hard 
times  were  coming  they  hurried  it  into 
market.  Advertisements  were  season- 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  195 

ably  put  out  and  the  sale  commenced 
at  auction,  Oct.  6.  The  ground  was 
previously  laid  out  in  suitable  house- 
lots,  walks  and  streets ;  each  enclosed 
with  narrow  strips  of  board,  with  a 
strip  of  common  land  in  the  centre. 
The  conditions  of  the  sale  were,  that 
every  house  should  be  built  according 
to  the  plan  then  laid  out.  Strange  as 
it  may  seem  to  those  unacquainted 
with  city  operations,  the  highest  house- 
lots  sold  for  $7  per  foot. 

But  I  find  my  pen  has  run  ahead, 
beyond  the  straight  line  of  my  story. 
I  will  now  go  back  to  say  that  as  soon 
as  sufficient  new  land  could  be  made,  a 
temporary  blacksmith's  shop  was  erect- 
ed, where  we  could  do  our  ox-shoeing, 
mending  chains,  &c.  Two  blacksmiths 
were  hired,  Stephen  Smith  and  John  S. 
Perry.  They  proved  excellent  work- 
men, and  I  thought  sometimes  vied 
with  each  other  in  the  shoeing  business. 
By  employing  two  smiths,  and  keeping 
shoes  on  hand  an  ox  would  be  kept  in 


196  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

the  cage  but  a  very  few  minutes,  and 
of  course  save  time.  Neighboring 
farmers  from  Brighton,  Brookline, 
Charlestown  and  Chelsea,  finding  my 
oxen  traveled  so  well  on  pavements, 
would  call  at  our  shop  when  they  came 
in  with  their  teams  to  get  them  shod. 
We  were  able  to  do  considerable  of 
this  kind  of  work. 

As  I  have  heretofore  spoken  of  the 
number  of  men  employed,  I  cannot  be 
so  ungallant  as  not  notice  the  fair  sex. 
For  housekeepers  I  employed  constant- 
ly one  young  man,  Henry  O.  Holly,  and 
Caroline  Foster  of  Wilmington,  and 
Catherine  Jones  of  New  Hampshire, 
for  cooks,  besides  one  other  girl  as 
help ;  several  different  girls  being  em- 
ployed at  different  times. 

Before  purchasing  the  Dr.  Lloyd 
house,  the  men  took  their  meals  at 
Victualing  Cellars ;  some  at  Sawyer's 
Cellar  on  Charlestown  Square,  and 
some  at  Campbell's  on  North  Market 
street,  and  slept  in  the  barns  on  the  hay. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  197 

The  personal  property  on  the  Hill 
at  the  commencement  of  the  work  was 
sold  at  different  times,  and  sometimes 
they  were  so  remiss  in  moving  it  as 
greatly  to  annoy  us. 

Once  when  Jackson  was  about  to 
make  another  sale  he  said, 

"  Sheldon,  you  know  we  have  been 
plagued  with  the  owners  not  removing 
their  property  out  of  our  way  as  soon 
as  agreed  upon.  Now  I  have  under- 
stood they  have  a  right  to  let  it  remain, 
and  all  I  can  get  is  the  damage,  and  it 
will  cost  more  than  it  is  worth  to  get 
that.  Can  you  contrive  any  way  to 
oblige  them  to  take  it  away  on  the  day 
specified." 

I  said,  "  Yes,  sell  them  as  much  of 
the  property  as  shall  be  removed  in  a 
given  time,  and  be  sure  to  have  this 
specified  in  the  articles  of  sale." 

"  That  will  do  it.  And  now  what- 
ever is  left  when  the  time  expires,  I 
will  give  to  you  for  this  idea." 

This  was   carried  out  to  the  letter. 


198  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

Mr.  Jackson  desiring  to  carry  out  this 
rule,  wished  me  to  appropriate  all  pro- 
perty remaining  beyond  the  limited 
time.  I  allowed  them  to  carry  off  till 
midnight  of  the  last  day,  then  forbade 
their  taking  another  stick.  The  team- 
sters, I  think  as  many  as  six,  were 
angry  and  determined  on  filling  their 
carts  again,  but  seeing  my  men,  who 
had  been  notified,  issue  from  the  house 
like  a  cloud,  they  quit  and  drove  off. 
I  would  recommend  this  course  to  those 
who  sell  standing  wood,  as  better  for 
buyer  and  seller  too,  for  the  young 
sprouts  are  greatly  injured  by  being 
trodden  down  or  gnawed  by  the  teams, 
and  the  buyer  is  stimulated  to  an  hon- 
orable exertion  to  do  business  in  its 
proper  time. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  work,  David 
Golden,  an  Irishman,  offered  terms  for 
a  job  of  shovelling.  Having  an  invet- 
erate dislike  to  sub-contracts,  I  de- 
clined, but  at  a  strong  invitation  from 
Jackson,  agreed  to  it.  However,  it 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  199 

proved  a  real  bother,  Mr.  Jackson 
thinking  the  same,  and  I  made  another 
bargain  with  him  to  quit  in  three  weeks. 
The  time  expired  at  noon.  The  money 
was  procured,  it  was  $823,  and  paid 
him  at  11  o'clock;  he  appointing  a 
certain  place  to  pay  off  his  men.  At 
20  minutes  before  12,  I  informed  them 
their  time  was  up,  and  they  might  go 
for  their  pay.  They  went,  but  nothing 
could  be  found  of  him,  nor  has  he  been 
heard  of  from  that  day  to  thisby  me. 

This  season  a  great  change  in  prices 
current  was  experienced.  The  Eastern 
Land  Speculation  had  turned  to  a  "  con- 
suming fire,"  that  seared  and  scorched 
speculating  men.  The  scant  crops  of 
hay  and  grain  raised  their  prices.  For 
the  first  load  of  hay,  I  paid  68  cents 
per  hundred ;  the  last,  $1.25.  For 
the  first  meal,  83  cents  per  bushel ;  the 
last,  $1.40.  For  the  first  shovelers,  83 
cents  per  day;  the  last,  $1.17.  Flour 
rose  in  proportion. 

As  the  job  wore  away,  less  teams 


200  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

could  be  employed,  and  many  of  them 
were  sold  on  the  ground.  One  pair 
was  sold  long  before  they  could  be 
spared,  to  Peter  C.  Brooks,  millionaire, 
and  so  well  pleased  was  he  with  them, 
that  ever  afterwards  he  would  buy  of 
no  other  man ;  and  in  fact  every  pair 
that  were  driven  by  a  middling  team- 
ster sold  for  as  much  as  was  paid  for 
them. 

Near  the  close  of  the  work,  Mr. 
Jackson  came  along  one  day  and  said, 
"  I  never  like  to  see  people  dress  above 
their  business,  but  you  do  not  dress  as 
well  as  your  workmen." 

"  I  know  that,"  said  I,  "  but  there 
is  one  consolation,  I  know  who  is  able 
to  give  me  a  suit  of  clothes." 

"  How  much  will  a  suit  of  clothes 
cost  you  ? " 

"  About  $50,"  I  answered. 

He  then  filled  out  a  check  for  $50, 
and  gave  it  to  me. 

"  Now  get  a  suit  of  clothes  to  suit 
yourself,"  said  he. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  201 

The  clothes  being  finished,  I  put 
them  on  Monday  morning  and  went 
into  his  office  and  accosted  him  with, 
"  Good  morning,  Mr.  Jackson." 

"  Good  morning,"  said  he ;  "I  thought 
some  gentleman  had  come  into  my  of- 
fice. Your  clothes  suit  very  well,  I  am 
glad  to  see  you  look  so  well  in  them." 

"And  I  too  am  well  pleased  with 
them,"  said  I,  "  but  I  think  I  had  bet- 
ter lay  them  aside  till  I  have  finished 
this  job." 

"  They  are  your  own,  wear  them 
when  and  where  you  please." 

The  work  being  all  done,  hands  paid 
off,  oxen  and  chattels  all  sold,  bills  paid 
and  receipted,  nothing  now  remained 
but  to  get  the  estimate  of  the  measure- 
ment from  the  Engineer  and  then  take 
our  pay.  This  was  put  off  a  week  at 
a  time  for  three  successive  weeks,  when 
Mr.  Jackson  went  with  me  to  his  office 
and  demanded  the  estimate. 

"  You  shall  have  it  one  week,"  said 
the  Engineer. 


LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

"  Can't  you  tell  us  something  near 
what  it  will  come  to,"  said  Jackson  ; 
"  Mr.  Sheldon  wants  to  know  whether 
he  is  going  to  have  any  more  money  or 
not." 

"  I  have  gone  so  far,"  said  he,  "I 
know  there  will  not  be  less  than  two 
hundred  thousand  yards." 

As  we  rode  back,  Mr.  Jackson  ob- 
served, now  Sheldon  you  will  never 
need  any  more  of  my  help.  Two  hun- 
dred thousand  yards  will  give  $20,000 
profit.  You  will  have  $19,000  left, 
and  that  is  enough  for  you  to  begin 
with." 

The  Engineer's  name  was  Fuller. 
The  first  Engineer  on  the  work  was 
named  Putnam  ;  he  left  and  went  into 
the  United  States  Service,  and  Fuller 
took  his  place. 

A  week  later  I  was  in  Jackson's  office 
when  the  sealed  estimate  was  brought 
in.  On  looking  it  over  Mr.  Jackson 
exclaimed,  "  A  fool  riding  on  a  trotting 
horse  would  guess  nearer  than  this." 


WILMINGTON  PABMEB.  203 

"  What  is  it  T'  I  inquired. 

"  Only  one  hundred  thousand  and 
eighteen  yards." 

Believe  me  this  was  in  truth  a  thun- 
derbolt ;  my  thoughts  were  too  big  for 
utterance.  Jackson,  turning  to  me, 
said,  "  Sheldon,  don't  feel  so  bad ;  you 
shall  have  $1000  if  I  don't  have  a  cent. 
You  have  worked  like  an  Indian." 

"  That  is  better  than  nothing,"  said 
I,  "but  a  man  would  feel  better  to 
have  $19,000  of  his  own  earnings, than 
to  have  $1000  given  to  him." 

George  M.  Dexter  was  then  employ- 
ed to  take  the  measurement  where  it 
had  been  filled  into  the  water.  This 
resulted  in  an  estimate  that  gave  $2700 
profit,  of  which  Mr.  Jackson  took  $1000, 
leaving  me  $1700. 

Let  me  here  tell  a  story  or  two  and 
then  conclude  the  link.  I  was  one  day 
at  Brighton  for  the  purpose  of  selling 
some  cattle.  I  sold  three  and  received 
the  money.  I  put  $118  in  a  purse,  my 
usual  receptacle,  in  the  right  pants  poc- 


204  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

ket,  and  about  $5  in  change  in  the  left. 
In  those  days  the  bar-room  at  the  Mar- 
ket Hotel  was  crowded  as  densely  as  it 
could  be,  just  before  the  dinner  bell 
rung.  Then  there  would  be  a  continu- 
ous rush.  That  day  I  happened  to  feel 
something  at  my  left  pocket,  and  drop- 
ping my  hand  as  quickly  as  possible, 
caught  hold  of  a  man's  wrist.  I  then 
heard  the  change  rattle  and  felt  some- 
thing touch  me  below  which  no  doubt 
was  another  man's  hand  into  which  the 
purse  was  dropped,  and  at  the  same 
time  I  called  out,  "  A  man's  got  my 
purse  ;  he  aint  got  it  now ;  he's  drop- 
ped it  into  another  man's  hand  ;"  and 
at  once  clutched  the  robber  by  his  neck- 
erchief. The  zealous  Wardsworth,  bar- 
'  keeper,  with  remarkable  agility,  leaped 
over  the  bar  and  over  the  shoulders  of 
the  men,  so  thick  were  they  huddled 
together,  and  was  the  first  after  me  to 
seize  him.  Luckily  for  me  that  the 
robber  did  not  take  the  purse  that  was 
in  the  right-hand  pocket.  That  night 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  205 

he  found  a  lodgment  in  Cambridge  jail. 
For  three  successive  weeks,  Peter  W. 
Ray,  keeper  of  a  hotel  in  Boston,  came 
to  Brighton  on  market  days  to  confer 
with  me  respecting  this  case.  He  urg- 
ed me  to  say  what  I  would  take  and 
not  appear  before  the  Grand  Jury.  My 
reply  was,  "  The  case  is  in  the  hands 
of  the  Commonwealth ;  I  am  nothing 
but  a  witness,  and  shall  not  attempt  to 
settle  this  business  at  any  rate."  After 
a  few  days  a  bondsman  was  obtained 
for  the  sum  of  four  hundred  dollars,  I 
think,  and  the  well-dressed  robber,  with 
rings  on  his  fingers,  was  released  from 
confinement.  When  the  Court  sat,  no 
robber  appeared,  and  the  bond  was  for- 
feited. 

The  Saturday  following  this  robbery, 
I  was  at  Cambridge  Cattle  Market,  and 
noticed  two  men  ride  up  in  a  chaise  and 
wait  in  the  bar-room,  apparently  with- 
out any  particular  business.  This  ex- 
cited my  suspicions.  My  horse  being 
harnessed  and  about  ready  to  start, 


206  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

John  Randall,  drover,  from  Vermont, 
asked  which  way  I  was  going.  Final- 
ly I  decided  to  come  through  West 
Cambridge,  and  bring  him  along  with 
me,  and  look  at  his  working  cattle,  as 
at  that  time  I  dealt  in  oxen.  On  the 
road,  I  perceived  those  same  gentle- 
men, in  their  chaise,  following  behind. 
I  stopped  at  West  Cambridge  Hotel, 
and  went  down  into  the  lot  to  examine 
the  cattle.  When  I  came  back  at  dark 
I  found  the  same  men  sitting  in  the  bar- 
room, and  this  increased  my  fears  much. 
How  to  evade  them  was  the  next  ques- 
tion. I  summoned  up  my  wits,  found 
my  way  into  the  kitchen  and  told  the 
maid  to  ask  the  landlord  to  come  in 
there,  and  added,  "But  don't  say,  'a 
man  wants  to  see  you,'  only  say  '  please 
come  in  here.' '  He  came  accordingly 
and  I  asked  him,  "  Have  these  two 
gentlemen  who  are  waiting  any  business 
here  ? " 

"  Not  that  I  know  of,"  was  his  ans- 
wer. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  207 

I  stepped  back  to  the  bar-room,  bid 
Randall  good  night  and  started  off,  but 
soon  found  that  they  were  following  be- 
hind again.  Coming  to  a  fork  in  the 
road,  and  feeling  certain  something 
must  be  done  immediately  to  get  clear 
of  them,  as  night  was  setting  in,  I 
stopped  my  horse  by  the  way  side  and 
jumped  out  to  busy  myself  in  unbuck- 
ling and  buckling  some  of  my  harness. 
They  rode  past  and  took  the  right-hand 
road,  went  a  few  rods  and  stopped.  '  I 
waited  a  few  minutes,  but  as  they  did 
not  start  I  thought  it  best  to  turn  back, 
and  said  to  the  landlord,  "  It  is  so  dark 
and  rainy  I  shall  not  go  home  to-night." 
I  never  heard  any  more  of  them,  and 
never  doubted  their  intent  to  take  my 
life.  I  was  careful  after  that  occur- 
rence not  to  be  on  the  road  from  Brigh- 
ton at  night,  until  after  Court  set. 

In  the  month  of  March,  I  went  one 
evening  across  what  is  called,  "  Hun- 
dred Acre  Meadow,"  which  was  then 
covered  with  ice.  In  returning,  the 


208  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

weather  being  foggy,  I  could  not  exact- 
ly see  my  course  and  steered  too  far 
North,  which  carried  me  on  to  the  riv- 
er. Down  went  the  horse  and  one  side 
of  the  sleigh,  while  I  scratched  out  on 
to  the  ice  and  there  lay,  not  daring  to 
get  up  or  stir  an  inch.  The  water 
flowed  under  me  ;  what  was  to  be  done. 
I  halloed  loud  and  long,  till  fortunate- 
ly the  noise  waked  Jonathan  Gowing 
from  sound  sleep,  and  he  came  to  his 
door  and  answered  "  Hallo."  Find- 
ing my  call  responded  to,  I  called  out, 
"  Rope,  rope,  —  River,  river."  Mr. 
Gowing  proceeded  to  uncord  his  bed, 
and  then  with  a  lantern,  in  company 
with  his  two  sons,  made  the  best  of 
their  way  to  the  spot  which  was  distant 
about  half  a  mile.  I  grasped  the  rope 
they  threw  me,  and  was  drawn  from 
my  watery  bed  to  a  place  of  safety. 
One  of  the  boys  then  fastened  the  rope 
to  the  collar  of  the  horse,  his  head  still 
sticking  out  of  the  water,  and  we  drew 
both  horse  and  sleigh  to  hard  ice.  Had 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  209 

this  occurred  on  the  downward  trip, 
with  the  sleigh  loaded  with  men,  the 
consequences  might  have  been  more 
disastrous.  I  had  been  employed  with 
them  the  previous  week  in  looking  out 
a  location  for  Salem  and  Lowell  Rail- 
road. 


210  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 


TWELFTH    LINK. 


The  following  winter  I  employed 
several  yoke  of  cattle  with  some  of  the 
best  men,  in  lumbering. 

At  the  opening  of  spring,  I  repaired 
again  to  Boston  to  dig  cellars  on  Pem- 
berton  Hill,  by  teaming  the  gravel  to 
the  same  place,  filled  the  year  before. 
This  occupied  about  two  months,  for 
which  $3834.25  was  paid  me,  being 
quite  satisfactory.  Mr.  Dexter  took 
the  engineering  of  this  work,  and  I 
likewise  kept  the  cart  measure,  and 
when  the  whole  was  summed  up,  there 
was  only  $9  difference.  Dexter  ob- 
served, that  two  men  measuring  it  in  a 
half-bushel  could  not  come  out  nearer. 
Dexter's  measurement  was  the  largest. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  211 

Our  teams  were  now  ferried  over  to 
East  Boston,  to  street  building.  Here 
we  made  five  miles  of  streets  and  then 
returned  to  Boston.  Here  we  made 
Lowell,  Nashua,  Haverhill,  Andover 
and  Billerica  streets,  working  by  the 
day  for  Jackson.  My  pay  was  $5  per 
day.  The  men  were  paid  by  him  as 
cheap  as  I  could  hire  them. 

I  will  now  take  a  peep  at  the  Lowell 
Railroad  again.  The  first  track  was 
laid  with  a  trench  wall  of  two  feet  in 
depth  under  the  rails.  Mr.  Jackson 
one  day  said  to  me, 

"  Sheldon  is  there  anything  better 
than  small  stones  for  a  trench  under 
the  rails?" 

"  Yes,  there  is,"  said  I. 

"  I  should  like  to  know  what  ? " 

"  Coarse  gravel  that  the  frost  has 
nothing  to  do  with." 

"  I  should  like  to  see  some  such,  if 
there  is  any,"  said  he. 

"  There  is  plenty  of  it  near  the  canal 
locks  in  Wilmington.  It  is  of  that 


212  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

kind  that  will  not  dirty  your  hands. 
Take  up  a  handfull  and  it  appears  like 
smashed  stone  from  the  size  of  a  cran- 
berry down  to  half  a  shot  and  finer. 
You  may  handle  it  and  throw  it  away 
and  it  will  not  leave  dirt  on  your 
hands." 

"  Get  into  our  carriage,"  said  Jack- 
son, "  and  we  will  go  and  examine  it." 
When  on  the  ground,  he  and  Baldwin 
did  examine  for  themselves,  when  Bald- 
win said,  "  Mr.  Jackson,  this  is  indeed 
pulverized  stone.  Sheldon  is  right ; 
there  is  no  dirt  in  it." 

They  soon  commenced  using  that 
kind  of  earth,  when  Baldwin  came 
again  and  said,  "  Sheldon,  we  have  de- 
cided on  your  kind  of  gravel,  but  it 
costs  too  much  to  make  it  hard.  Now 
will  you  go  with  me  and  see  if  you  can 
contrive  to  do  it  cheaper "? " 

We  went  up  to  West  Medford,  where 
we  found  sixteen  Irishmen  pounding- 
down  the  gravel  with  mauls. 

He  says,  "  Now  this  costs  us  $6  per 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  213 

rod  to  pound  it  down.     Now  can  you 
tell  of  a  cheaper  way? " 

I  answered,  "  Put  in  four  heavy  oxen 
and  their  sixteen  feet  will  do  more  than 
sixteen  mauls." 

He  then  hired  Noah  Johnson's  four 
oxen  to  use  one  hour,  and  acknowl- 
edged his  belief  that  those  four  oxen 
had  done  more  than  sixteen  Irishmen 
could. 

Jackson  desired  me  to  take  charge 
of  the  job,  and  to  use  the  best  of  my 
skill  in  any  process  of  hardening  it  I 
might  choose.  Work  being  about  fin 
ished  up  in  Boston,  I  speedily  procured 
a  pair  of  mill-stones,  put  in  an  axletree 
and  spire,  and  run  them  night  and  day, 
changing  teams  as  often  as  necessary. 
To  facilitate  the  business,  the  gravel 
was  brought  on  cars,  and  by  the  use  of 
mill-stones  the  hardening  process  was 
reduced  from  $6  to  63  cents  per  rod. 

I  would  now  like  to  state  a  few  things 
of  which  I  claim  to  be  the  originator, 
and  which  I  wish  all  to  understand. 


214  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

I  will  now  take  a  leap  back  to  the 
time  when  I  cut  off  the  Foster  lot,  in 
1812.  This  was  the  first  time  I  had 
hired  men  to  cut  wood  by  the  cord. 
Every  one  of  them  was  charged  to  be 
sure  to  pile  every  split  stick  bark  side 
up.  This  I  learned  when  quite  young 
by  loading  wood  that  had  lain  nearly  a 
year.  I  found  that  a  stick  that  laid 
bark  side  up  would  be  bright  and  dry, 
but  those  laid  otherwise  would  be  dark 
colored  and  heavy ;  and  if  it  had  lain 
over  a  year  water  would  frequently  set- 
tle between  the  bark  and  the  wood, 
causing  the  bark  to  slip  off.  One  old, 
experienced  wood-chopper  receiving 
the  same  orders,  went  on  to  his  work. 
Going  into  the  lot  a  few  days  after,  I 
was  struck  with  wonder  to  see  what 
pains  he  had  taken  to  lay  every  stick 
bark  down. 

"  Why  did  you  pile  the  wood  that 
way,"  said  I. 

"  Why,"  said  he,  "I  knew  you  was 
a  very  particular  man,  and  I  had  for- 


WILMINGTON  FARMER,  215 

gotten  which  way  you  wanted  it,  but 
thought  it  could  not  be  bark  up." 

"  I  will  now  tell  you  so  that  you  will 
never  forget  again.  Remember,  when 
God  created  cattle  he  put  the  hide  and 
hair  on  the  outside  to  protect  them 
from  the  weather.  So  when  he  made 
trees  to  grow  he  made  bark  grow  on 
the  outside  to  protect  the  wood.  And 
wherever  you  see  bark  bruised  off, 
there  the  wood  will  rot." 

This  occurrence  was  fifty  years  ago, 
and  became  the  sport  and  sneer  of 
wood-choppers ;  but  now,  nineteen  out 
of  twenty  pile  their  wood  bark-side  up. 

I  likewise  claim  to  be  the  originator 
of  iron  axle-trees  for  ox-wagons  in  the 
New  England  States. 

Deacon  John  Symmes  was  builder  of 
the  wood-work,  and  Marshall  Symmes, 
his  brother,  made  the  iron-work.  They 
both  expressed  many  fears  that  under 
heavy  loads,  they  would  break  in  frosty 
weather.  The  custom  had  been  to 
punch  a  hole  through  the  axle-tree  to 


216  LIFE  OP  ASA  Q.  SHELDON  : 

fasten  on  the  body.  This  served  to 
weaken  the  axle,  and  cause  a  liability 
to  break.  To  remedy  this  I  had  the 
body  fastened  with  two  bolts,  passing 
each  side  the  iron  axle,  instead  of  one 
going  through  it.  This  wagon  was 
built  in  1816.  I  now  have  the  same 
axle-trees  with  the  hubs  of  the  forward 
wheels,  in  good  running  order,  a  period 
of  forty-six  years. 

The  use  of  dry,  loose,  stone  gravel 
for  railroad  trenches,  as  before  stated, 
was  through  my  observation.  For  car- 
riage roads  it  surpasses  anything  known. 
Blue  gravel  treads  down  quick  and 
makes  a  pretty  road  at  first,  but  as  soon 
as  rain  falls  it  becomes  muddy.  In 
short,  it  is  nice  for  walks  and  streets 
any  where ;  for  I  know  of  nothing  that 
will  grow  in  it  but  pitch  pines.  To 
cover  grave  lots  with  it  a  few  inches 
deep,  is  a  sure  preventative  to  weeds 
and  fern,  keeping  the  ground  neat  and 
clean,  without  labor  or  attention  from 
year  to  year. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  217 

I  was  first  to  practice  laying  railroad 
bearings  two  and  a  half  feet  apart  in- 
stead of  three.  This  I  consider  a  great 
improvement,  and  is  universally  adopt- 
ed by  all  railroad  companies,  as  far  as 
I  have  any  knowledge.  My  first  ex- 
perience of  this  was  in  1834,  when 
constructing  a  piece  of  railway  through 
the  farm  then  owned  by  Eldad  Carter, 
Wilmington.  It  was  considered  a  hard 
piece,  and  we  were  afraid  rails  could 
not  be  made  to  stand.  I  tried  the  ex- 
periment of  placing  the  bearings  six 
inches  nearer  than  usual  and  found  it 
succeeded  admirably.  After  the  cars 
had  run  awhile,  Baldwin  said  to  me, 

"  Sheldon,  'tis  said  you  have  made 
the  best  piece  of  road  from  Lowell  to 
Boston.  The  Engineer  says,  that  if  he 
were  blindfolded  in  Boston  or  Lowell, 
he  could  tell  when  he  struck  that  piece 
of  way." 

"  Where  is  it,"  said  I. 

"  'Tis  that  bad  piece  you  were  so 
afraid  of." 


218  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

"  Do  you  know  the  secret  of  that 
road  ? "  said  I. 

"  No ;  only  we  thought  it  was  so 
miry  and  bad  you  put  in  your  best 
work." 

"  The  whole  secret  is  in  the  bearings 
being  six  inches  nearer  together  than 
others  are,"  said  I,  "  and  if  you  ob- 
serve you  can  see  the  rails  will  spring 
when  the  cars  run  over  where  the  bear- 
ings are  three  feet  apart." 

"  If  that  be  the  case,  I  will  go  up 
and  examine  it,"  said  he. 

He  did  go,  and  examined  for  him- 
self and  became  satisfied  that  the  lat- 
ter plan  was  a  great  improvement  and  a 
great  saving  of  rails,  as  well  as  engines 
and  cars. 

Again :  I  have  discovered  that  abut- 
ments of  bridges  should  be  set  two 
feet  below  the  surface,  and  the  base- 
ment stones  so  placed  that  the  front 
line  of  the  abutment  should  rest  on 
their  centre.  All  front  abutment  stones 
should  be  laid  without  a  pinner  in  front. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  219 

They  should  have  a  good  bearing  and 
not  need  a  pinner.  In  taking  down 
abutments  laid  by  others,  to  relay  them, 
I  have  found  that  the  main  difficulty 
consisted  in  having  pinners  in  front. 
The  jar  had  crumbled  them  into  small 
pieces.  All  bank  walls  or  abutments 
having  earth  behind  them,  should  be 
bartered  at  least  one  inch  and  a  half 
per  foot. 

"  Necessity  is  the  Mother  of  Invention." 
I  once  had  some  stones  to  move  that 
averaged  about  five  tons  each.  I  hard- 
ly knew  how  it  could  be  done  as  wheels 
could  not  be  used,  the  pass  not  being 
wide  enough.  As  I  stood  thinking  up- 
on it  for  a  moment,  it  occurred  to  me 
that  good,  straight,  rye  straw,  spread 
crosswise  of  the  path,  would  help  the 
drag.  On  trying  this  plan  I  found  that 
it  worked  to  a  charm.  The  hotter  the 
sun  shone,  the  easier  the  drag  would 
slide,  and  I  found  one  good  yoke  of 
oxen  would  slip  along  with  five  tons 
comfortably.  Twenty-five  pounds  of 


220  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

straw  to  the  rod  will  make  a  good,  fair 
road. 

To  those  who  have  board-timber  to 
cut  at  a  distance  from  mill,  I  would  say, 
cut  it  in  the  month  of  August,  or  first 
of  September,  and  peel  the  bark  off. 
This  will  lighten  the  timber  about  one 
half,  and  the  bark  proves  good  fuel. 
I  have  carried  two  feet  to  market  on 
top  of  a  load  of  six  feet  of  hard,  green 
wood,  and  sold  it  as  high  as  if  it  had 
been  all  hard  wood.  The  difference 
in  drawing  these  logs  compared  with 
new  fallen  logs  is  not  small. 

I  claim  the  first  invention  of  wagon 
springs.  When  I  first  peddled  meat, 
springs  on  market-wagon  seats  were 
unknown,  and  under  wagons  too.  The 
wagon  body  set  on  the  axle-trees,  as 
wood  wagons  set  in  these  days,  and  the 
box  in  the  front  end  was  the  seat  for 
the  driver.  My  health  declined,  and, 
strange  to  say,  I  could  not  eat  without 
difficulty.  At  length  the  trouble  in- 
creased so  much  that  I  could  not  eat 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  221 

at  all  while  in  a  sitting  posture  and  was 
obliged  to  take  my  meals  standing. 
Speaking  one  day  with  Dr.  Nathan 
Richardson,  that  eminently  skillful  phy- 
sician, he  said  it  was  produced  wholly 
by  the  continuous  jar  of  riding,  as  my 
route  lay  through  country  towns,  some- 
times to  the  extent  of  forty-five  miles 
per  day  over  very  rocky  roads.  I  then 
planned  some  springs,  very  much  like 
those  now  called  grasshopper  springs, 
and  Jonathan  Batchelder  of  No.  Read- 
ing made  them.  These  springs  though 
rude  and  simple  had  a  salutary  effect, 
and  health  was  soon  regained.  John 
Sweetser,  an  extensive  butcher,  was 
ahead  of  me  in  one  respect,  inasmuch 
as  he  used  a  cushion  on  his  hard  seat 
before  I  did.  This  was  the  first  one  I 
had  ever  seen  used.  It  was  very  much 
sneered  at  by  Salem  butchers,  for  in 
that  day  comfort  did  not  enter  into  the 
reckoning. 

In  December,  1834,  in  company  with 
Isaac  Flint  made  a  contract  with  Jack- 


222  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

son  for  cedar  ties  enough  for  seven  miles 
of  railroad.  After  reconnoitering  the 
neighboring  towns  we  came  to  Middle- 
ton,  where  plenty  of  cedar  could  be 
taken  from  a  swamp  when  sufficiently 
frozen,  and  to  facilitate  the  road  to  mill, 
it  was  necessary  to  cross  Middleton 
Pond.  This  was  December  19th,  and 
one  more  cold  night  was  deemed  suf- 
ficient to  make  the  Pond  bearable. 
Our  teams  were  at  South  Woburn,  now 
Winchester,  making  preparations  for  an 
early  start,  and  so  well  did  we  succeed 
that  the  next  morning  at  sunrise  a  load 
of  cedar  might  be  seen  crossing  Mid- 
dleton Pond  on  its  way  to  mill.  Be- 
fore the  opening  of  Spring  a  choice  lot 
of  cedar  was  collected  there,  more  than 
enough  to  fill  our  contract ;  the  surplus 
was  readily  taken  at  the  same  price. 

This  winter  was  noted  for  its  storms 
all  falling  in  the  night  or  on  Sundays. 
Only  one  half  day  was  so  foul  as  to 
prevent  work.  I  could  hardly  believe 
that  there  had  been  a  winter,  so  univer- 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  223 

sally  fair  had  it  been,  only  as  I  knew 
such  was  the  fact. 

The  work  was  begun  December  20th, 
the  first  day  the  ice  would  admit,  and 
finished  March  20th,  on  which  night  a 
warm  rain  come  on  that  would  have, 
at  any  rate,  precluded  our  doing  any- 
thing further. 

Much  of  the  lumber  being  too  good 
for  ties,  was  worked  into  boards,  and  a 
good  winter's  work  realized.  Twenty 
oxen  and  twenty  men  were  employed ; 
and  not  only  in  Middleton,  but  in  Wil- 
mington, North  Reading,  Reading  and 
South  Reading,  swamps  were  scoured 
for  cedar,  and  besides  our  ties  nearly 
one  hundred  thousand  feet  of  boards 
were  supplied. 

In  1836,  in  company  with  Joseph 
Richardson,  of  Andover,  agreed  to  con- 
tract for  the  drawing  of  enough  rails 
for  nearly  eight  miles  of  railroad,  from 
Wilmington  to  Andover.  This  winter, 
twenty  oxen  were  employed,  and  as 
Mr.  Richardson  was  out  of  health  near 


224  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

ly  the  whole  concern  came  under  my 
supervision.  Several  of  the  same  men 
were  engaged  on  this  work  that  were 
employed  on  Pemberton  Hill  and  Cedar 
Swamp,  viz  : — Horace  Emmons,  Jacob 
Morey,  Abijah  Richardson,  William 
Goodhue,  and  William  Badger. 

Some  of  these  men  had  been  em- 
ployed as  teamsters  seven  years,  and 
Horace  Emmons,  although  an  excellent 
teamster,  was  found  to  be  worth  more 
to  oversee  men  than  oxen.  I  first  hir- 
ed him  in  1832,  at  the  commencement 
of  the  work  on  the  Boston  and  Lowell 
Railroad,  for  $11  per  month,  and  he 
never  asked  me  to  raise  his  wages,  but 
only  said  he  was  willing  to  continue 
work  and  I  might  give  him  what  he 
earned.  His  wages  were  gradually 
raised  from  time  to  time,  till  for  the 
last  month  I  paid  him  $52,  and  would 
gladly  have  hired  him  longer  at  the 
same  price. 

Young  men,  in  this  glass  you  may 
see  the  reward  of  faithfulness  in  ano- 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  225 

ther  man's  employ.  Always  be  true  to 
your  employer.  "  Once  a  rogue  and 
always  mistrusted,"  is  an  old  and  true 
proverb.  Kemember  money  should  be 
earned  before  it  is  received,  and  you 
should  study  the  best  interest  of  your 
employer  instead  of  studying  how  you 
can  get  the  most  money  out  of  him. 

I  do  not  think  that  there  has  been  a 
Spring  since  I  attended  the  Agricultur-> 
al  Meetings  at  the  State  House,  but 
what  I  have  had  applications  for  an 
overseer  on  a  farm,  where  he  could  ob- 
tain $500  per  year,  and  have  been 
really  sorry  when  casting  an  eye  back 
on  the  men  I  have  employed  to  find 
"  unblemished  timber"  so  scarce.  One 
other  hand,  whose  faithful  services  I 
must  not  overlook,  was  Isaac  Damon, 
who  worked  for  me  more  than  two 
years,  and  such  was  my  confidence  in 
his  integrity,  that  I  would  willingly 
trust  him  with  "untold  gold." 

I  sometimes  hear  young  men  say 
that  they  can  get  nothing  to  do.     If 


226  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON: 

you  cannot  get  the  price  you  want,  you 
had  better  work  for  smaller  wages  than 
cultivate  idleness.  If  those  who  have 
work  to  do  will  not  employ  you,  be  as- 
sured that  there  is  a  "  leak  in  the  buck- 
et," and  you  must  search  out  the  leak 
and  stop  it  up,  and  thus  make  your 
services  acceptable. 

When  I  had  decided  on  one  of  those 
reliable  men,  and  applied  to  him,  I  gen- 
erally found  him  so  engaged  that  he 
did  not  wish  to  leave. 

Let  it  not  be  inferred  from  what  has 
been  said,  that  I  have  not  had  many 
good  men,  yes,  very  good,  in  my  em- 
ploy not  named ;  but  before  I  can  re- 
commend a  man  to  take  charge  of  a 
farm,  "  I  must  summer  and  winter 
him ; "  I  must  know  his  habits  of  tend- 
ing stock  as  well  as  his  skill  in  cultivat- 
ing land. 

It  is  my  wish  that  young  men  would 
hereby  be  encouraged  to  be  faithful  to 
their  employers.  When  that  fact  is 
fully  established,  it  is  a  firm  stepping- 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  227 

stone  to  prosperity.  Faithfulness  to 
trust  is  pecuniarily  as  well  as  morally 
the  best  policy. 

Before  closing  I  must  mention  the 
pleasant  winters  I  have  enjoyed  in  the 
Legislature  of  my  native  State,  listen- 
ing to  speeches  and  debates  clothed 
with  the  wisdom  and  experience  of  the 
honorable  of  our  times. 

The  winters  of  1841  and  of  1857, 
were  spent  in  that  agreeable,  and  I 
trust  profitable  situation. 

If  ever  I  benefited  the  Common- 
wealth, in  which  it  is  my  privilege  to 
dwell,  it  was  during  my  second  term  as 
Representative.  A  bill  was  pending 
before  the  House,  called  the  "  Usury 
Bill ; "  this  bill  I  considered  unjust, 
and  labored  with  all  the  honest  inge- 
nuity and  skill  I  was  master  of  to  bring 
about  its  defeat.  I  endeavored  to  state 
facts  before  the  House,  showing  that 
the  passage  of  this  bill  would  bring 
ruin  on  many  of  the  most  enterprising 
farmers  in  Massachusetts,  and  I  have 


228  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

the  consolation  of  knowing  that  it  was 
defeated.  After  the  adjournment,  many 
of  the  members  came  to  me,  saying 
that  they  were  heartily  glad  to  hear  my 
speech,  for  it  had  brought  many  things 
to  their  minds  of  which  they  never 
thought  before,  and  that  they  certainly 
should  have  voted  for  the  bill  had  it 
not  been  for  the  ideas  gained  from  it. 
Reader,  the  same  spirit  that  prompts 
men  to  say,  "  Slavery  is  a  blessing," 
will  always  be  trying  to  get  such  bills 
passed,  and  I  wish  you  to  take  into 
serious  consideration  the  effect  this  bill 
would  have  upon  the  community. 

First — It  would  open  the  door  for 
the  capitalist  to  take  more  advantage 
than  he  ever  yet  had  in  his  power  ; 
and  we  know  from  experience  that  this 
power  is  always  exercised  under  the 
pressure  of  the  hardest  times.  The 
greater  the  cry  that  money  is  scarce, 
the  more  there  is  lying  idle.  We  have 
seen  enough  of  human  nature  to  know 
that  man  will  take  all  the  interest  he 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  229 

can  get  under  cover  of  law.  Remove 
this  law  and  what  disastrous  conse- 
quences follow.  How  many  enterpris- 
ing young  men  there  are  in  this  State, 
that  have  bought  farms,  paid  half  the 
purchase  money  and  given  a  mortgage 
on  the  farm  for  security  for  the  remain- 
der, honestly  expecting  to  pay  but  six 
per  cent,  interest.  How  long  would  it 
be  before  they  must  pay  twelve  per 
cent.,  if  such  a  bill  passed  ?  Then 
how  long  would  it  be  before  real  es- 
tate would  fall  one-half  in  value  \  And 
then  what  an  amount  of  farms  would 
fall  into  the  hands  of  land-sharks. 

Take  another  illustration.  A  mer- 
chant has  goods  in  his  store  to  the 
amount  of  from  one  thousand  to  five 
thousand  dollars,  on  which  he  wishes 
to  make  an  honest  living  and  interest 
on  his  money,  and  this  is  right.  Now 
this  must  come  out  of  the  consumer, 
and  generally  out  of  that  valuable  class 
of  citizens  who  work  for  their  daily 
bread.  I  know  that  there  are  many 


230  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

who  say  if  there  were  no  bounds  to  in- 
terest, money  would  be  easier  and 
plentier.  Of  course  I  do  not  believe 
them  ;  they  are  the  very  class  who  wish 
to  let  money. 

In  short,  to  increase  the  per  cent,  of 
interest,  serves  to  make  rich  men  rich- 
er, and  poor  men  poorer ;  and  whoever 
brings  it  about,  brings  a  curse  upon  the 
community. 

Farmers  and  mechanics  —  God  has 
put  it  in  your  power  to  prevent  usury 
ever  running  higher  than  six  per  cent. 
Look  to  it  that  you  use  that  power. 
Never,  never,  cast  your  vote  for  a  man 
who  would  oppress  the  poor  to  fill  the 
coffers  of  the  rich. 

At  another  time  when  a  bill  for  a 
horse  railroad  was  before  the  House, 
and  much  opposition  raised  on  account 
of  obstructing  the  streets,  I  pondered 
the  subject  and  was  determined  to  col- 
lect facts  that  would  show  how  horse 
cars  would  compare  with  omnibuses, 
and  horses  and  chaises. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  231 

I  found  an  omnibus  to  average  twelve 
to  the  load.  I  then  stood  on  Cam- 
bridge bridge  till  sixteen  chaises  passed 
and  found  they  averaged  one  and  one- 
half,  making  in  all  twenty-four.  I  then 
went  to  several  Conductors  of  horse 
cars  and  ascertained  their  average  to 
be  twenty-four  each  way  for  a  month. 
By  this  I  found  that  eight  horses  with 
two  omnibuses  had  to  pass  through  the 
streets  to  convey  the  same  number  of 
passengers  that  two  horses  and  one  car 
would  carry,  and  sixteen  horses  and 
sixteen  chaises  to  carry  the  same  num- 
ber. 

These  facts  I  stated.  And  further 
stated,  that  when  the  grant  was  made 
to  the  public  from  the  land-owners,  it 
was  not  specified  what  they  should 
travel  upon,  whether  gravel  or  stone, 
wood  or  iron.  Therefore  the  public 
have  a  right  to  take  their  choice  and 
travel  how,  or  in  what  vehicles  they 
please. 

I  know  the  rails  are  some  inconven- 


232  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

ience  to  travelers,  but  reader  when  you 
can  find  a  safer  or  better  way  than 
horse  cars,  then  you  may  go  against 
them.  The  bill  passed  the  House. 

One  word  on  choosing  Representa- 
tives for  Town  or  State,  as  the  trust  is 
of  vast  importance. 

Make  choice  of  men  possessed  of 
good  natural  sense,  in  the  common  ac- 
ceptation of  the  term,  but  who  have 
been  for  the  most  part  employed  in 
agriculture ;  or  more  properly  in  the 
business  the  all-wise  Creator  first  de- 
signed for  man — "  To  dress  the  garden 
and  keep  it."  No  occupation  is  so  well 
calculated  to  improve  the  mind  and 
morals,  as  farming.  Not  an  hour  pass- 
es while  cultivating  the  soil,  but  one  is 
reminded  of  his  dependence  on  our 
beneficent  Creator,  and  our  obligations 
to  imitate  Him  "  who  maketh  his  sun 
to  rise  on  the  evil  and  on  the  good, 
and  sendeth  rain  on  the  just  and  on  the 
unjust." 

Men  whose  profession  it  is  to  make  a 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  233 

lie  appear  like  the  truth,  and  who  like 
Southern  slaveholders,  have  been  bred 
to  the  degrading  idea  that  it  is  right  to 
oppress  the  poor  to  help  the  rich,  should 
be  avoided,  as  we  would  avoid  enlist- 
ing under  a  task-master  for  life. 

Laboring  men,  farmers  and  mechan- 
ics are  the  men  to  make  laws  for  them- 
selves. For  certainly  they  compose 
the  greater  part  of  our  population. 
Then  choose  your  officers  for  Town 
and  County  from  that  class,  and  be  ac- 
tive to  bring  about  such  a  choice.  If 
we  mean  to  maintain  a  Free  Govern- 
ment and  avoid  in  future  the  horrors  of 
civil  war,  we  must  elect  men  to  rule  us 
who  are  determined  to  discharge  their 
duty  to  God  and  their  country  without 
fear  of  men  or  devils. 

While  serving  in  the  capacity  of 
Representative,  I  was  introduced  to  the 
Agricultural  Meetings  at  the  State 
House.  They  are  generally  held  week- 
ly when  the  Legislature  is  in  session, 
when  different  topics  of  agriculture  are 


234:  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

discussed,  and  it  has  been  my  privilege 
to  attend  them  occasionally  for  twenty- 
one  years,  much  to  my  satisfaction.  I 
have  often  heard  the  remark  by  men 
who  never  attended  one  of  these  meet- 
ings in  their  lives,  that  they  are  good 
for  nothing.  To  those  I  would  say,  if 
you  cannot  profit  by  hearing  such  men 
as  Marshall  P.  Wilder,  Dr.  Loring, 
Sanford  Howard,  Leander  Witherell, 
John  W.  Procter,  Josiah  Quincy,  Jr., 
Elijah  Wood,  Jr.,  John  Brooks,  Wm. 
Buckminster  and  Simon  Brown,  and 
many  more  I  could  mention,  relate 
their  knowledge  and  experience  in  cat- 
tle, horses,  hogs  and  sheep,  on  culti- 
vating the  soil  with  everything  it  pro- 
duces, on  fruit  trees  of  all  kinds,  farm- 
ing implements,  manure,  and  every- 
thing appertaining  to  agriculture,  you 
may  set  it  down  that  you  are  a  dull 
scholar,  and  had  better  never  try  to  get 
your  living  by  farming.  For  my  own 
part,  I  feel  under  obligations  to  those 
Hon.  gentlemen,  for  the  instructions 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  235 

received  from  them,  and  for  the  last 
ten  years  I  have  turned  my  attention 
more  particularly  to  farming,  dairy- 
work  and  stock-raising. 


SECOND    AKEANGEMENT, 


STONE    WORK. 


In  the  year  1809,  passing  through 
'Squire  William  Blanchard's  farm,  I  ob- 
served his  three  men  laying  stone  wall, 
Charles  Burt  being  foreman.  I  no- 
ticed he  tried  a  stone  several  ways,  and 
then  about  to  throw  it  aside  in  a  pet, 
said,  "  It  wont  lay  no  way." 

"  Hold  on,  Burt,"  said  I,  "  There  is 
one  way  that  stone  will  lay  and  make 
good  work." 

"  I  should  like  to  know  which  way?" 

Putting  my  hand  to  the  stone,  I  said, 
"  make  that  the  bed  and  lay  it  over  the 
joint  of  those  two." 

He  did  so,  and  it  made  solid  work 
without  a  pinner.  The  'Squire  stood 
by,  puffing  a  cigar,  and  said,  "  Young 
man  what  shall  I  give  you  to  work  for 


238  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

me  three  hours  ? "  This  was  the  first 
time  I  had  ever  spoken  with  him. 

"  One  shilling  per  hour,"  said  I, 
having  no  idea  he  would  give  it,  eight 
cents  being  the  common  price. 

"  Now,"  said  he,  "I  want  you  to 
pick  out  every  stone  and  direct  how  it 
shall  be  laid,  and  I  will  give  you  your 
price." 

An  hour  or  so  afterwards,  the  'Squire 
appeared  again  with  something  to  cheer 
the  hands  and  quench  thirst. 

"  Burt,  how  do  you  get  along  ? "  said 
he. 

"  Faster  than  we  have  done,  and 
easier  too,"  said  Burt. 

Again  the  'Squire  came,  saying, 
"Young  man,  your  three  hours  are  out; 
walk  up  to  the  house  and  I  will  pay 
you ;  but  you  must  stop  and  take  a  cup 
of  tea  with  me  and  my  wife  first." 

At  that  time  I  should  rather  "  take 
a  licking,"  as  boys  say,  than  sit  down 
to  tea  with  them ;  but  I  soon  found 
myself  introduced  to  the  most  amiable 
and  social  of  women.  And  since  that 
time  I  never  regretted  my  acquaintance 
with  the  Blanchard  family.  To  this 
time,  whenever  opportunity  offers,  I 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  239 

can  spend  an  hour  very  agreeably  with 
any  of  the  descendants  of  that  couple, 
After  this  occurrence  whenever  there 
was  a  culvert  to  be  built  in  the  high- 
way, Sheldon  was  called  on  to  take 
charge  of  it. 

The  first  year  of  my  residence  on 
the  Flint  farm  built  a  stone  wall  around 
his  family  graveyard,  near  his  house. 
He  wished  a  permanent  wall,  that 
would  stand  the  lapse  of  centuries,  as 
he  might  leave  his  farm.  I  made  in- 
quiries in  that  respect  a  few  days  since, 
and  was  informed  that  not  a  stone  had 
fallen  from  its  place,  neither  from  the 
graveyard  or  hog-sty  wall  that  I  built. 
People  had  told  him,  no  man  could  lay 
a  wall  that  hogs  would  not  throw  down. 
So  well  pleased  was  he  that  no  other 
man  was  employed  to  lay  stone  for  him 
while  I  occupied  his  farm,  a  period  of 
thirteen  years. 

During  the  first  year  of  my  railroad 
experience,  when  Dea.  Addison  Flint 
had  charge  of  the  stone  work,  and  I  of 
the  earth,  as  I  chanced  to  be  looking  at 
the  stone  layers,  they  turned  an  un- 
couth stone  weighing  more  than  three 
tons  round  and  round,  and  were  about 


240  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  t 

casting  it  aside  when  I  ventured  to  say, 
"  Hold  on,  I  can  see  a  way  for  it." 

"  How  is  that  1 "  said  the  foreman. 

I  told  them,  and  the  trial  satisfied  all 
parties.  John  Haggins,  Dept.  En- 
gineer, being  present,  soon  brought 
about  an  exchange.  Flint  was  put  on 
the  earth,  and  I  upon  the  stone-work. 

I  wish  to  avoid  the  imputation  of 
egotism  in  saying  that  my  abutments  of 
bridges  stood  so  well  that  I  have  since 
been  employed  to  rebuild  abutments  to 
bridges  built  by  others,  on  the  Boston 
and  Lowell  Railroad,  to  the  number  of 
fourteen. 

1.  Where   the    cars  run  under  the 
road    leading   from   Medford   to   East 
Cambridge. 

2.  The  arched  bridge  at  Somerville 
Station. 

3.  The  next  bridge  North  of  that. 

4.  The   Willow  bridge,   where   the 
cattle  are  now  taken  off. 

5.  The  arched  bridge  under  the  rail- 
road over  Medford  river,  spanning  about 
fifty  feet. 

6.  The  bridge  under  the  road  lead- 
ing from  Symmes'  Corner  to  Winchester 
West  side. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  241 

7.  The  bridge  at  the  river  near  the 
same  place. 

8.  Under   the   railroad   in   Parker's 
Mill-pond. 

9.  The   bridge   near   East  Woburn 
and  Stoneham  Station. 

10.  The  Boutelle  bridge  so-called. 

11.  The  Saw-pit  Woods  bridge. 

12.  Kendall  bridge  in  Billerica. 

13.  Tufts  bridge  in  Billerica. 

14.  Bridge  over  the  road  leading  from 
Billerica  to  Tewksbury. 

During  all  this  reconstruction  of 
bridges,  the  business  was  so  managed 
that  the  cars  were  never  delayed  one 
moment,  much  to  the  gratification  of 
the  Agents. 

For  Patrick  T.  Jackson,  Charles  S. 
Storrow,  Waldo  Higginson,  William 
Parker,  Agents,  and  Benj.  F.  Baldwin, 
Engineer,  I  have  done  work  to  the 
amount  of  over  $100,000.  And  all 
this  without  any  written  contract,  nei- 
ther of  us  being  bound  by  writing,  and 
I  ever  found  their  memorandum  of  the 
agreement  proved  as  strong  as  any 
bond  could  make  it.  I  thank  God  that 
he  has  raised  up  these  honest,  fair- 
dealing,  upright  men.  But  to  my  sor- 


242  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

row,  on  one  other  railroad  I  found  both 
Engineer  and  Agents  to  be  men  of  a 
very  different  character. 

I  was  once  invited  to  take  the  job  of 
constructing  several  miles  of  railroad 
in  company  with  two  others.  I  had 
about  concluded  to  engage,  when  one 
of  them  said  to  me,  "  If  you  do  take 
the  stone  work,  I  don't  want  you  should 
do  it  as  you  did  the  Boston  and  Lowell, 
to  stand  forever ,  but  get  it  done  as  cheap 
as  we  can  and  get  it  accepted,  and  se- 
cure our  pay  for  it,  and  then  I  don't 
care  if  it  all  goes  to  destruction  the  next 
day." 

"  Then  I  will  have  nothing  to  do 
with  it,"  said  I,  "  for  I  have  never  yet 
laid  a  stone  on  the  railroad  that  I 
thought  likely  to  endanger  any  man's 
life  and  I  never  mean  to." 

The  road  was  built,  and  soon  after  I 
heard  of  the  stone-work  giving  way, 
the  engine  falling  through,  bringing 
one  man  to  a  most  excruciating  death. 

In  the  year  1839,  I  was  employed  in 
making  an  abutment  for  the  Boston 
and  Maine  road,  at  the  bridge  over  the 
Merrimac  river  on  the  Bradford  side. 
I  likewise  teamed  rails  and  ties  for  nine 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  243 

miles  of  road,  of  which  a  man  named 
Clark  was  agent.  He  told  me  in  the 
commencement  that  they,  the  Company, 
had  no  right  to  the  land ;  I  must  beg 
my  way  along  as  well  as  I  could.  And 
sure  I  did  have  to  beg  my  way.  One 
amusing  circumstance  I  will  relate. 
As  we  approached  land  belonging  to  a 
middle-aged  widow,  in  depositing  our 
rails,  the  neighbors  mustered  their 
heavy  teams  and  built  a  wall  across 
the  track  completely  blocking  up  our 
way.  I  informed  Clark  of  the  circum- 
stance when  he  gave  orders  to  have  the 
wall  taken  out  of  the  way.  Jacob 
Morey's  team  was  the  first  to  start  on 
to  forbidden  ground.  Just  as  he  start- 
ed I  espied  a  woman  hurrying  across 
the  field  toward  us,  who  proved  to  be 
the  rightful  owner  of  the  land. 

Some  hundreds  had  collected  to  see 
the  "  fight,"  as  they  termed  it.  To 
Morey  I  said,  "Don't  stop  for  any  man, 
but  be  sure  not  drive  over  a  woman.'" 

She  did  not  happen  to  be  quick 
enough  to  get  ahead  of  the  oxen,  and 
so  ran  in  between  the  off  ox  and  the 
load.  This  chanced  to  be  the  worst  ox 
to  kick  I  ever  owned;  I  should  not 


244  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

have  dared  to  stand  there  myself.  I 
hastened  to  the  spot  with  all  eagerness 
and  warned  the  woman  of  her  danger, 
but  I  presume  she  did  not  believe  one 
word  I  told  her.  That  he  did  not  kick 
was  truly  a  wonder,  but  he  stood  pas- 
sive as  a  lamb.  On  looking  round  I 
saw  that  her  son  had  placed  a  long 
wagon  crosswise  ahead  of  the  oth- 
er teams  and  blockaded  them.  A 
hand  was  dispatched  to  get  some  hay 
for  Morey's  team,  with  orders  for  the 
other  teamsters  to  do  the  same,  "  for 
if  we  must  stand  here,  they  must  have 
something  to  eat,"  I  said. 

It  being  the  month  of  March,  it  was 
all  mud  and  water  where  she  stood.  I 
then  brought  a  plank  and  -laid  it  care- 
fully in  for  her  to  stand  upon,  saying, 
"  If  you  will  stand  there,  I  will  make 
you  as  comfortable  as  I  can."  I  was 
just  as  sociable  as  lay  in  my  power,  but 
not  a  word  could  I  get  out  of  her,  or  a 
smile  from  her  lips  until  'Squire  Tilton 
from  Exeter,  then  treasurer  of  the  rail- 
road, said, 

"  Sheldon,  I  have  always  heard  that 
you  were  a  smart  man ;  I  am  surprised 
that  you  let  one  woman  stop  all  this 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  245 

work.      Why    don't   you    drive    over 
herr 

"  'Squire,"  said  I,  "  for  more  than 
twenty  years  I  have  not  been  in  the 
habit  of  driving  more  than  half  way 
over  so  handsome  a  woman  as  that." 

This  brought  a  smile  to  her  face  and 
loosened  her  tongue. 

"  How  long  are  you  going  to  keep 
your  oxen  here  ? "  asked  she. 

"If  I  can't  go  ahead  I  shall  keep 
my  cattle  here  till  twelve  o'clock  Satur- 
day night,  and  bring  them  back  Sunday 
night  at  twelve  o'clock ;  and  as  I  have 
not  engaged  board  anywhere,  should 
like  to  board  with  you.  Now  if  you 
will  go  up  and  get  supper  I  will  come 
and  help  you  eat  it.  What  time  do 
you  have  supper  1 " 

"  We  eat  our  supper  at  six  o'clock," 
said  she. 

She  then  stepped  out,  and  I  helped 
her  up  the  bank  with  what  politeness  I 
was  master  of,  and  for  once  I  must  say 
I  was  glad  to  see  one  of  the  fair  sex 
walking  from  me.  She  had  stood  there 
at  least  half  an  hour. 

When  six  o'clock  came,  I  made  my 
way  up  to  the  house,  entered  without 


246  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

rapping  as  if  it  had  been  my  boarding- 
house.  I  found  all  seated  at  table  but 
one  who  waited  and  was  detained.  I 
took  the  chair  appropriated  to  her,  and 
said,  "  I  suppose  this  chair  is  reserved 
for  me." 

"  If  you  are  determined  you  will  eat 
supper  with  us,  you  may  sit  in  that 
chair." 

"  Madam,  I  am  not  only  determined 
to  eat  supper  with  you,  but  I  am  deter- 
mined to  board  with  you  while  my  work 
continues  in  this  neighborhood." 

While  eating  she  asked,  "  Do  you 
intend  to  keep  those  teams  where  my 
son  is,  as  long  as  you  proposed  to  keep 
the  other  team  ?\ 

"  Yes,  certainly  I  do." 

"  Then  I  will  send  for  him  to  drive 
his  team  home." 

We  grew  quite  sociable  before  sup- 
per was  finished,  and  could  talk  about 
the  railroad  pleasantly.  She  asked  me, 
"  Was  that  a  real  kicking  ox  of  yours, 
or  did  you  say  so  to  frighten  and  drive 
me  away  ? " 

"  Oh,  it  was  a  real  kicking  ox ;  and 
it  is  an  astonishment  to  me  that  he  did 
not  kick  you  under  the  wheels." 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  247 

I  boarded  with  her  as  long  as  I  pleas 
ed,  and  found  it  a  good  boarding  place 

After  the  consummation  of  this  job 
the  same  company  advertised  for  pro 
posals  for   laying  nine  miles  of  rails, 
and  eight  miles  of  stone-work.     I,  with 
five  others,  carried  in  proposals  for  the 
rail-work,  and  I  by  myself  carried  in 
proposals  for  the  stone-work.     The  Di 
rectors  voted  to  accept  of  both,  and  we 
met  to  make  the  contracts.     The  con 
tract  for  the  rail-work  was  made,  but 
Bailey's  name  stood  first,  although  mine 
was  first  on  the  proposal.     This  done, 
'Squire  Clark,  the  agent,  wished  to  see 
me    alone.      When  by   ourselves,   he 
said, 

"  I  wish  to  say  to  you  in  confidence,  1 
don't  know  how  far  we  shall  go  with 
our  road,  or  when  we  shall  be  obliged 
to  stop.  I  don't  want  to  make  any  con- 
tract for  the  stone-work,  but  I  want  you 
to  go  there  and  work  when  I  say  so, 
and  do  as  I  say,  and  I  will  see  you  well 
paid  for  it." 

After  a  while,  Haywood,  the  Engi- 
neer, came  and  said  to  me,  "  How  soon 
can  you  be  at  Exeter,  ready  to  work  at 
Capt.  Fernald's  bridge  I " 


248  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

"  How  soon  do  you  want  me  if  I 
could  be  there]" 

"  I  want  you  to  be  there  very  much 
to-morrow  morning  at  eight  o'clock." 

"  I  think  I  can  be  there  at  that  time," 
I  replied. 

We  loaded  our  stone  tools  and  set 
out  at  midnight ;  travelled  fourteen 
miles  before  sunrise ;  stopped  and 
breakfasted  at  Dodge's  tavern,  and 
proceeded  to  the  ground  and  were 
ready  there  at  eight  o'clock. 

While  waiting,  I  put  up  four  stakes 
at  the  four  corners  where  I  judged  the 
bridge  ought  to  be.  At  nine  o'clock, 
Haywood  and  Clark  arrived. 

"  Mr.  Haywood,  where  shall  I  put 
in  this  bridge  V'  I  asked. 

"  Where  do  you  think  it  best  to  put 
it  in  ? "  said  he. 

"  Where  those  four  stakes  stand." 

"  Then  put  it  there,"  said  he. 

"  I  don't  know  whether  you  will  or 
not,"  said  an  unknown  gentleman. 

"Is  this  Capt.  FernaldT'  said  Mr. 
Haywood. 

"  Fernald  is  my  name,"  he  answered. 

"  I  am  very  happy  to  see  you,  Capt. 
Fernald,"  said  Haywood. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  249 

The  parties,  after  talking  together  a 
few  minutes,  told  me  that  I  might  go  to 
work. 

A  number  of  walls  meeting  here, 
just  where  I  wanted  to  work,  I  asked, 
"  "Who  owns  these  walls  ? " 

"  I  own  them,"  said  F. 

"  These  walls  will  serve  for  backers, 
I  would  like  to  buy  them.  What  will 
you  take  for  them  ? " 

"  Thirty  dollars,"  said  the  Captain. 

"  Captain  Fernald,  they  are  not  worth 
$10  for  you  to  move  away." 

He  started  quick,  a  characteristic  of 
a  sea  captain.  "It  is  nothing  to  you 
what  they  are  worth  to  me  ;  if  I  sell 
them  to  you  I  want  what  they  are  worth 
to  you." 

"  Capt.  Fernald,  if  you  will  allow 
me  to  make  remarks  five  minutes,  I 
will  then  hear  you  an  hour  if  you  wish 
me  to.  We  will  suppose  these  stones 
to  be  worth  $30  to  me,  but  only  $10 
to  you,  would  it  not  be  more  just  to 
divide  and  call  it  $20,  giving  me  $10 
and  you  $10,  than  it  would  be  to  take 
either  extreme  1 " 

"  You  have  convinced  me ;  you  shall 
have  them  for  $20.  You  and  I  are 


250  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

friends  now."  And  pointing  to  two 
lots  of  land,  lie  said,  "  I  own  that  land 
and  if  you  want  any  stone  there,  you 
are  welcome  to  get  them." 

This  bridge  was  finished  without  any 
special  trouble,  and  about  ten  rods  fur- 
ther up  we  put  in  an  abutment  on  Fer- 
nald's  land,  close  to  the  line,  intending 
to  build  another  on  the  other  side,  own- 
ed by  a  man  named  Swasey,  to  accom- 
modate both  in  their  farm  operations. 
I  had  no  acquaintance  with  Swasey  but 
hoped  to  get  along  without  difficulty. 
The  morning  came  and  we  started  as 
usual  to  commence  our  work.  I  saw  a 
man  coming  across  the  field  with  a  gun 
in  his  hand,  and  when  he  came  up,  he 
said,  "  What  are  you  going  to  do  here?" 

"  I  am  going  to  dig  away  and  put  in 
an  abutment  on  this  side  for  a  bridge 
to  accommodate  Capt.  Fernald  and  Mr. 
Swasey." 

"  I  will  put  a  ball  through  the  heart 
of  the  first  man  who  takes  a  stone  from 
this  wall." 

I  saw  there  was  a  dead  set,  and  turn- 
ing to  the  stone  layers,  said,  "  Go  up 
into  Judge  Smith's  pasture  to  splitting 
stone ;  I  have  bought  the  privilege  of 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  251 

taking  out  all  the  stone  I  wished.  And 
you  teamsters,  go  and  draw  them  and 
lay  them  on  the  highway,  handy  to  be 
used,  if  we  are  ever  allowed  to  do  the 
work." 

My  boarding  place  was  Dodge's  tav- 
ern, where  Swasey  made  his  appear- 
ance every  evening  and  held  converse 
with  me.  It  soon  become  apparent 
that  he  was  smoothing  down,  and  in 
about  a  week  he  said  to  me,  "  Mr. 
Sheldon,  we  think  about  here  that  you 
know  more  concerning  railroads  than 
we  do,  and  some  think  that  you  will 
say  just  what  you  think  about  it.  Now 
tell  me,  had  I  better  let  the  road  pass 
through  my  land  or  not." 

"  Certainly,  you  had,"  said  I.  "  You 
told  me  the  other  night  that  you  had 
three  thousand  cords  of  standing  wood, 
and  as  soon  as  the  railroad  is  in  opera- 
tion, every  cord  of  that  wood  will  be 
worth  fifty  cents  more  than  it  now  is. 
They  are  now  buying  wood  at  Wil- 
ming  for  $3  per  cord,  to  run  their  en- 
gine to  East  Kingston ;  and  as  soon  as 
the  cars  run  wood  will  be  worth  as 
much  here  as  it  is  in  Wilmington.  The 
cut  is  already  made  through  your  farm, 


252  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

and  if  you  could  stop  the  work  from 
going  further,  you  could  never  get  one 
cent  of  damages ;  and  I  advise  you  to 
take  stock  in  the  road  for  damages." 

"  When  do  you  want  to  go  to  work 
on  that  abutment,  if  I  would  let  you  1 " 

"  To-morrow  morning  at  sunrise," 
said  I. 

"  Then  you  may  go  on,"  he  replied. 

We  were  on  the  work  at  sunrise, 
and  soon  Mr.  Swasey  made  his  appear- 
ance with  his  team.  His  first  question 
was,  "  Where  shall  I  begin  to  work  1 " 
I  told  him,  and  he  worked  all  day  like 
a  hero,  as  he  was,  and  at  night  he  pull- 
ed oif  his  hat  and,  bowing  low,  said, 
"  You  are  welcome  to  this  day's  work, 
because  you  would  not  be  mad  even 
though  I  threatened  your  life.  — 
Sheldon,  when  I  came  out  here  with 
my  gun,  it  was  loaded  with  two  balls, 
and  I  certainly  should  have  put  them 
through  your  heart  had  you  attempted 
to  move  a  stone." 

Pretty  much  after  this  fashion  we 
worked  our  way  along  through  all  this 
section.  Sometimes  we  were  not  able 
to  lay  a  stone  for  a  week,  being  obliged 
to  move  back  and  forth  and  work  a  few 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  253 

days  in  a  place  when  and  where  we 
could  get  a  chance.  When  we  could 
get  no  opportunity  to  lay  stone  we  em- 
ployed ourselves  in  getting  them  out 
and  drawing  them  near  where  we  hop- 
ed to  lay  them.  These  delays  certainly 
impeded  the  work  more  than  thirty- 
three  per  cent.,  or  nearly  one-half;  and 
besides  the  workmen  began  to  grow  un- 
easy and  fretful  at  moving  about  so 
much  and  not  being  able  to  show  more 
for  their  work. 

One  day  I  met  the  agent  and  engi- 
neer in  a  sleigh  on  Kingston  plain. 
"  Clark,"  said  I,  "  hadn't  we  better 
leave  the  work  and  go  home,  for  cer- 
tainly some  days  we  do  not  earn  twen- 
ty-five cents  where  we  spend  a  dollar." 

"  Havn't  I  said  to  you  times  enough, 
stay  there  and  do  what  I  want  you  to, 
and  I  will  see  you  well  paid.  Don't 
say  anything  more  to  me  about  leaving 
unless  I  tell  you  to." 

So  poor  was  the  credit  of  the  cor- 
poration at  that  time,  that  not  a  stick  of 
timber  could  be  bought  for  a  temporary 
bridge,  unless  Edward  Crane  or  I  would 
promise  to  see  it  paid  for.  Crane  was 
on  the  earth  and  I  on  the  stone-work  ; 


254  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

we  were  the  only  two  undertakers  on 
the  ground. 

As  a  palliation  for  the  seeming  in- 
sanity that  prevailed  among  the  land 
owners,  I  would  say  that  there  was  a 
prevailing  belief  that  the  road  would 
never  be  finished.  The  stock  was  as 
low  as  sixty  per  cent.,  and  they  feared 
they  would  not  get  damages. 

When  the  work  was  all  completed, 
they  owed  me  $8,500  as  honestly  as 
ever  one  man  owed  another.  I  sent  an 
order  to  the  Treasurer  for  $45  and  he 
refused  to  pay  it,  saying  he  owed  me 
nothing. 

When  it  was  announced  that  the 
Corporation  "  owed  me  nothing,"  there 
were  forty  writs  levied  upon  my  pro- 
perty within  twenty-fours,  for  the  an- 
nouncement was  made  in  the  long  entry 
of  the  largest  hotel  in  Exeter.  In  this 
situation,  the  reader  can  well  judge 
what  a  waste  was  made  of  my  proper- 
ty. One  instance  I  will  here  mention. 
About  a  fortnight  prior  to  this  there 
was  a  large  sale  of  chestnut  timber  in 
New  Hampshire,  at  auction.  I  attend- 
ed and  bought  $1650  worth ;  paid 
$150  cash  and  gave  three  notes  of 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  255 

$500  each,  one  to  be  paid  in  six 
months,  one  in  one  year  and  one  in 
eighteen  months.  In  a  few  days  a 
large  timber  dealer  offered  me  $500 
for  the  bargain.  Knowing  it  was  the 
best  bargain  of  timber  I  ever  bought 
in  my  life,  and  wanting  winter  work 
for  my  oxen  and  men,  I  thought  it  not 
wise  to  accept  the  offer,  not  doubting 
but  that  I  should  receive  my  pay  for 
that  job  and  could  handle  it  to  my 
liking  and  turn  it  at  last  to  more  ad- 
vantage. The  money  being  withheld, 
and  all  my  property  attached,  I  lost 
not  only  the  bargain  but  the  $150  prev- 
iously paid.  The  man  who  offered  me 
$500  for  the  bargain,  afterwards  bought 
the  lot,  and  I  have  been  informed  by 
good  authority  that  he  cleared  $3,000 
on  the  bargain.  Great  numbers  of 
chestnut  ties,  from  this  lot,  were  car- 
ried on  the  railroad  to  Boston  and  then 
shipped  to  Russia. 

Hon.  Thomas  West  succeeded  Mr 
Clark  in  office,  and  became  agent  of 
the  road.  I  made  him  the  offer  to 
leave  the  case  to  three  men,  who  were 
directors  of  the  road  when  the  work 
was  done.  This  was  not  accepted.  I 


256  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

then  offered  to  leave  it  to  Patrick  T. 
Jackson,  James  F.  Baldwin  and  Chas. 
S.  Storrow.  This  offer  did  not  meet 
their  approbation.  I  then  commenced 
a  suit  against  them.  After  several 
months  I  received  a  communication  by 
letter  to  meet  the  Directors  at  Dover 
on  a  specified  day.  On  arriving  at 
Andover,  I  was  introduced  to  one  of 
the  Directors  by  the  name  of  Weld. 
On  the  way,  we  talked  over  the  matter, 
and  he  said  he  had  understood  that  I 
had  once  offered  to  le^ye  it  to  three 
men  who  were  directors  on  the  road 
when  the  work  was  done. 

"  I  did,"  said  I. 

"Will  you  renew  that  offer"?"  he 
asked.  * 

"  I  willj'  was  my  answer. 

When  we  arrived  at  Haverhill,  Mr. 
West  came  into  the  cars,  and  Mr.  Weld 
related  the  conversation  that  had  taken 
place  between  us  on  the  road,  and  ex- 
pressed his  surprise  that  the  corpora- 
tion should  suffer  themselves  to  be  sued 
when  I  had  made  them  so  fair  an  offer. 

"  I  don't  know,"  said  Mr.  West,  "  but 
he  has  made  them  an  offer  that  they 
would  rather  accept  of  than  that.  I 


WILMINGTON  FABMER.  257 

believe  he  has  offered  to  leave  it  to 
Jackson,  Baldwin  and  Storrow." 

"  I  did  make  that  offer." 

"  Will  you  renew  it  1 "  said  Mr.  Weld. 

"  I  will  renew  both  offers,  and  you 
may  take  your  choice." 

"  It  shall  be  done ;  it  shall  be  set- 
tled without  going  further  in  court." 

On  going  into  the  room  with  the  Di- 
rectors, they  said  that  there  was  nothing 
in  the  way  of  settlement;  if  I  would 
retire,  Mr.  West  and  I  could  talk  it 
over  in  the  cars  on  our  way  home. 
When  the  subject  was  introduced,  Mr. 
West  said,  "  The  Directors  all  meet  at 
Boston  to-morrow.  If  you  will  come 
and  bring  in  your  bill,  and  we  do  not 
pay  it,  Jackson,  Baldwin  and  Storrow 
shall  settle  it." 

To  Boston  I  went,  and  met  West  in 
State  street,  when  he  accosted  me  thus, 
"  Sheldon,  they  will  not  have  Jackson 
on  this  reference  at  any  rate." 

"  You  have  already  agreed  to  have 
him,"  said  I. 

"  Well  go  in  and  see  what  they  say." 

When  in,  it  was  soon  announced  that 
Mr.  Jackson  could  not  be  allowed  to 
serve  as  referee. 


258  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

"  Gentlemen,"  I  said,  "  if  you  will 
give  me  any  reason  why  Mr.  Jackson 
cannot  be  admitted  to  serve,  I  will  be 
content  with  another  man." 

"  Sheldon,"  said  Mr.  Weld,  "  we 
find,  here  in  Boston,  that  you  have 
done  so  much  work  for  Mr.  Jackson, 
and  have  been  with  him  so  much  that 
he  will  believe  every  word  you  say, 
and  we  may  as  well  leave  the  case  to 
him." 

My  answer  was,  "It  is  no  disgrace 
to  me  after  being  with  him,  and  do- 
ing as  much  for  him  as  I  have  done,  to 
have  him  believe  all  I  say." 

The  chairman  then  said,  "  Name  a 
man  living  somewhere  between  Boston 
and  Dover,  within  three  miles  of  our 
road." 

I  then  named  twenty  men,  all  of 
whom  were  rejected  as  soon  as  named. 
"  Gentlemen,"  said  I,  "  it  is  of  no  use 
for  me  to  pick  out  a  man;  name  one 
yourselves." 

"  Col.  Duncan,  of  Haverhill,"  said 
Mr.  Weld. 

"  I  do  not  want  a  better  man,"  said  I, 
"  he  is  one  of  the  first  three  that  I  of- 
fered to  leave  it  to." 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  259 

As  the  cars  were  about  to  leave,  they 
decided  that  John  Flint,  of  Andover, 
should  write  notices  to  the  several  gen- 
tlemen, and  I  should  see  that  they  had 
them. 

So  early  was  I  up  the  next  morning 
that  I  travelled  eight  miles  before  John 
Flint  was  out  of  bed.  He  wrote  the 
notices  and  I  flew  up  and  down  on  the 
railroad  and  carried  them  to  the  re- 
spective gentlemen  that  same  day.  But 
strange  to  believe,  before  the  specified 
day  came,  I  received  a  letter  from  Dun- 
can that  they  would  have  neither  of 
the  Boston  gentlemen  at  any  rate  to  sit 
on  the  case  between  me  and  the  Cor- 
poration. 

Here  the  case  hung  until  Col.  Dun- 
can was  appointed  Auditor  by  the  Court. 
He  appointed  a  meeting  at  Andover, 
to  which  the  several  parties  repaired. 
After  Mr.  Haywood's  testimony,  Mr. 
West  advanced  a  proposal  lo  give  me 
$7000  if  I  would  take  $1000  in  their 
railroad  stock.  After  a  little  delibera- 
tion I  decided  to  accept  it,  for  this  rea- 
son. The  bargain  was  made  privately 
between  me  and  Mr.  Clark,  on  that  ac- 
count I  had  no  evidence  of  it  and  Mr. 


260  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

Haywood  said  on  the  stand,  he  could 
not  recollect  the  conversation  between 
Clark  and  me  on  Kingston  Plain.  Fur- 
thermore, the  same  gentleman  came  to 
me  and  said  the  stone  work  referred  to 
as  a  sample  for  me  was  not  good  enough 
but  was  failing,  and  asked  what  way  it 
could  be  made  better.  I  informed  him 
by  splitting  out  the  stone  with  wedges 
instead  of  powder,  but  it  would  cost 
more.  He  asked,  "  How  much  more  1 " 

"  One  dollar  per  yard,"  was  the  an- 
swer. 

"  Well,"  said  he,  "  get  them  out 
with  wedges." 

On  the  stand  he  acknowledged  the 
work  was  $1  per  yard  better,  but  he 
could — not — recollect  ever  giving  any  or- 
ders for  that  course. 

About  three  years  after  commencing 
my  suit,  when  I  received  from  the  Cor- 
poration $7000,  I  made  the  best  set- 
tlement with  creditors  circumstances 
would  permit,  and  began  life  again  with 
only  $75. 

I  would  like  to  say  distinctly  to  every 
Stockholder  of  the  Boston  and  Maine 
Road,  that  when  your  Corporation  was 
in  a  sinking  condition  I  did  what  I  could 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  261 

to  further  on  the  work,  day  and  night, 
some  nights  going  without  any  sleep. 
And  now  knowing  how  I  have  been 
treated,  are  there  not  some  lovers  of 
justice  among  you  who  are  willing  to 
make  some  recompense  in  view  of  the 
faithfulness  with  which  I  have  served 
you.  Some  may  say,  why  did  you  risk 
so  much  without  a  written  contract? 
I  would  state  in  reply,  I  had  done  more 
than  $  100,000  worth  of  work  for  men 
who  were  agents,  and  always  found 
their  word  to  be  good  as  their  bond ; 
this  gave  me  too  much  confidence  in 
men. 

To  Mr.  West  I  would  say,  you  have 
had  a  long  time  to  reflect,  that  you  once 
agreed  to  let  Jackson,  Baldwin  and 
Storrow  settle  the  case  between  me  and 
your  Corporation.  Then  you  refused 
to  let  Mr.  Jackson  act,  and  Col.  Dun- 
can's name  was  substituted  in  his  stead. 
The  next  thing,  you  refused  to  let  Mr. 
Baldwin  and  Mr.  Storrow  act.  By  so 
doing  I  consider  you  rubied  a  man  who 
had  served  your  Corporation  faithfully. 
After  so  long  a  time  if  you  have  repent- 
ed of  what  I  consider  a  great  sin,  I 
trust  you  will  set  about  making  some 


262  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON: 

recompense.  But  if  your  heart  is  yet 
hardened,  I  pray  God,  when  your  eyes 
are  closed  in  death,  to  have  mercy  on 
your  soul. 

A  job  of  stone-work  at  Nashua,  N. 
H.,  next  claims  attention.  I  was  called 
by  the  Directors  of  the  Nashua  and 
Lowell  Road  to  look  at  a  piece  of  work 
considered  difficult  to  do,  and  keep  the 
cars  running.  Here  the  cars  ran  across 
Indian  Head  canal  and  then  followed 
its  bank,  partly  over  the  water,  about 
five  hundred  feet.  It  was  supported 
by  piles  nineteen  feet  above  the  bottom 
of  the  canal.  These  had  begun  to  de- 
cay and  it  was  found  necessary  to  re- 
construct the  road.  The  first  thing 
was  to  build  two  abutments  near  the 
depot,  fifty-five  feet  long  and  nineteen 
feet  high,  with  a  pier  in  the  centre  of 
the  same  length;  then  a  wall  three 
hundred  feet  long  of  the  same  height, 
five  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  water, 
Then  there  were  four  arches  to  turn. 
Around  these  we  built  a  coffer  dam, 
that  we  might  prosecute  the  work  with- 
out water.  They  spanned  twenty  feet 
each,  making  eighty  feet.  They  were 
to  carry  off  surplus  water  in  case  of  a 


WILMINGTON  FARMEB.  263 

freshet.  The  piles  and  wood-work 
were  all  taken  away,  and  this  large  job 
of  stone-work  done  without  hindering 
the  cars  one  minute. 

Gratitude  forbids  that  I  should  pass 
unnoticed  a  narrow  escape  there.  One 
of  the  workmen  desired  a.  staging  built 
outside  the  wall  over  the  canal. 

"  Build  it  so  strong,"  said  I,  "  that 
two  men  can  stand  upon  it  and  lift  with 
all  their  strength  with  a  crow-bar." 

It  was  used  in  that  way  two  days. 
On  the  third  morning  the  applicant 
desired  me  to  go  on  to  the  staging  to 
look  at  a  large  stone  laid  the  night  be- 
fore. I  descended  with  great  caution, 
I  hardly  know  why,  keeping  hold  of 
the  stones  all  the  time,  but  alas,  the  in- 
stant I  let  go,  and  stood  on  the  staging, 
down  came  the  whole  concern  and  I 
was  precipitated  backwards  into  the 
canal,  which  that  day  received  the 
whole  water  of  Nashua  river,  for  the 
purpose  of  having  a  dam  repaired,  and 
making  the  current  in  the  canal  very 
swift.  This  occurred  near  the  guard- 
gates,  through  which  I  knew  I  must 
go,  and  feared  I  should  lodge  on  some 
timber,  but  thanks  to  Morey  I  went 


264  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

through  safe.  One  of  my  men,  Har- 
vey Putnam,  hearing  the  crash  of  the 
staging,  run  to  the  place,  and  saw  noth- 
ing but  the  broken  staging  in  the  canal 
and  my  hat  on  the  top  of  the  water. 
He  then  ran  below  the  gates  and  could 
discern  a  shirt  sleeve  in  the  foam.  De- 
termined to  help  what  he  could,  he 
descended  the  wall,  laid  in  steps,  and 
hanging  on  by  the  stones  with  his  hand, 
stretched  his  legs  into  the  water,  calling 
out,  "  Get  hold  of  my  legs."  I  was 
tumbling  over  in  the  dashing  water, 
but  heard  him  distinctly,  and  reaching 
about  with  all  my  might,  luckily  caught 
hold  of  a  boot  and  held  on  until  helped 
out  of  the  water.  I  repaired  to  the 
scene  of  danger  as  soon  as  the  case 
would  permit,  and  found  that  a  small 
strip  of  cast  iron  had  taken  the  place 
of  an  iron  crow-bar  that  supported  the 
staging.  Feeling  confident  that  the 
whole  affair  was  designed,  I  took  the 
small  piece  remaining  in  the  wall, 
where  it  had  been  broken  off,  my  work- 
men being  gathered  around,  and  step- 
ped toward  the  suspected  man,  hold- 
ing the  iron  directly  before  his  face, 
neither  of  us  speaking  a  word.  His 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  265 

countenance  turned  very  pale,  and 
strange  as  the  fact  may  seem,  within 
an  hour  proposed  to  leave  the  work.  I 
am  fully  satisfied  from  circumstances, 
that  the  man  who  kept  the  Time  Book, 
hired  him  to  do  the  trick,  by  ordering 
$15  to  be  paid  him  out  of  the  Corpor- 
ation's money.  That  they  designed  to 
take  my  life,  I  have  no  doubt ;  and  if, 
while  I  live,  that  man  should  be  sick 
and  likely  to  die,  I  will  go  to  him,  if  I 
can,  and  ask  him  if  the  time-keeper 
hired  him  to  exchange  the  crowbar  for 
that  piece  of  cast  iron,  and  get  me  on 
the  stage  for  the  purpose  of  destroying 
my  life.  In  the  beginning,  I  was  cau- 
tioned by  a  man  intimately  acquainted 
with  this  time-keeper,  to  look  out  for 
him,  stating  that  he  was  an  artful  man, 
and  that  when  the  job  was  well  under 
way  it  would  be  like  him  to  take  hold 
of  it  himself,  if  he  could  by  any  means 
get  rid  of  me,  and  then  say,  "  Sheldon 
began  the  job  but  could  not  finish  it." 

I  have  had  the  superintendence  of 
building  or  re-building  the  abutments 
of  eighteen  bridges  on  the  Boston  and 
Lowell  road,  and  many  culverts.  And 
on  the  Boston  and  Maine  road  I  have 


266  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

built  abutments  for  eight  bridges,  be- 
sides numerous  culverts  and  cow-guards. 
On  the  South  Reading  Branch  I  have 
likewise  laid  abutments  to  eight  bridges 
and  turned  an  arch  over  the  river  that 
divides  Essex  from  Middlesex  County, 
together  with  many  cow-guards  and 
culverts  on  the  same  road,  and  also  at 
Bradford,  at  Ward  Hill,  where  the  road 
runs  near  Merrimac  river. 

Slocum,  of  Haverhill,  and  myself 
had  been  engaged  in  a  winter's  work 
of  drawing  lumber  to  Maine  railroad 
in  Kingston.  We  then  hired  an  en- 
gine, engineer,  train  of  cars  and  fire- 
man, to  take  it  down  to  Andover  Saw 
Mills.  I  was  conductor  and  espied  a 
crack  running  lengthwise  of  the  ties, 
about  the  middle  of  the  road  fifty-five 
feet  in  length.  This  was  in  the  beginn- 
ing of  Spring.  I  made  signal  to  stop 
when  fairly  over  it,  and  in  less  than  five 
minutes  it  all  slid  down  into  the  river. 
As  we  stood  gazing,  the  road-master 
came  up,  and  in  surprise  and  almost 
crazed,  freshets  were  rising  so  fast, 
said,  "  Sheldon,  you  can  think  faster 
than  I  can,  for  heaven's  sake  tell  me 
what  to  do  ? " 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  267 

"  Send  a  man,"  said  I,  "  as  fast  as 
he  can  go  to  North  Andover,  to  tell  the 
conductor  to  turn  his  engine  behind 
and  back  up  here ;  and  you  must  have 
my  engine  to  bring  the  passengers  from 
Haverhill  up,  and  they  must  walk  over 
and  change  cars." 

He  then  remarked,  "  You  must  mend 
up  this  place  as  soon  as  possible,  for  I 
have  as  much  as  I  can  attend  to  else- 
where ;  our  road  is  going  to  pieces." 

The  fourteen  men  with  me,  were 
speedily  set  to  work  throwing  stones 
into  the  hole,  for  there  were  lots  of 
them  near  by  on  the  opposite  side. 
I  then  sent  a  man  with  the  engine 
down  to  Haverhill  to  tell  Slocum  to 
send  dinner  for  fourteen  men,  and  all 
the  men  he  could  raise.  They  brought 
dinner  and  a  passenger  train  together, 
and  by  mustering  neighbors  we  swell- 
ed our  force  to  forty-three  men  and  six 
oxen. 

At  that  time,  as  good  luck  would 
have  it,  the  moon's  clear  light  enabled 
us  to  continue  our  work  through  the 
night.  Burrill,  the  Agent  for  running 
the  cars,  came  up  with  the  supper, 
looked  on,  and  said,  "  Sheldon,  how 


268  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

many  days  before  the  cars  can  run 
here?" 

"  I  want  you  to  bring  up  a  good 
second  supper  for  twenty-three  hungry 
men,"  said  I,  "  and  then  I  can  tell  you 
better  about  it.  Bring  it  as  late  as  you 
like  to  sit  up  to  accommodate  us." 

The  supper  came  about  11  o'clock, 
and  it  was  as  good  a  supper  as  men 
ever  need  to  eat.  It  may  be  called 
second  supper,  or  night  dinner,  for  well 
do  I  know  from  experience  that  a  man 
while  laboring  needs  food  as  much  at 
night  as  in  day.  Six  hours  labor  is 
quite  enough  for  any  man  between 
meals. 

The  embankment  that  gave  way  was 
fifty-five  feet  in  length  and  fifteen  feet 
below  the  rail,  but  the  ties  kept  their 
place,  being  frozen  in  on  the  opposite 
side,  only  half  the  track  going  down. 
When  supper  came,  Burrill  asked  me, 
"  Can  you  tell  now  how  many  days  it 
will  be  before  the  cars  can  run  1 " 

"  If  you  don't  hear  from  me  before 
the  sun  rises,  you  may  start  your  cars 
along  as  though  nothing  had  occurred." 

"Sheldon,  are  you  crazy?"  said  he. 

"  No,  I  hope  not ;  but  you  may  start 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  269 

on  the  cars,  telling  them  to  proceed 
with  caution  when  they  approach  this 
place." 

The  cars  did  come  at  the  usual  time, 
and  I  stopped  to  see  them  safely  over 
and  then  went  back  to  Haverhill  to 
breakfast. 

The  secret  of  accomplishing  this 
great  work  in  so  short  a  time,  was  just 
this :  we  threw  the  stones  in  and  al- 
lowed them  to  find  their  own  bed,  and 
when  they  had  gone  as  far  as  they 
could,  they  would  lay  there  till  moved 
by  other  power.  There  were  plenty 
of  stones  here  that  had  been  taken 
from  the  ledge  that  we  wanted  to  get 
off  the  line  of  the  railroad.  When  we 
had  filled  up  within  six  feet  of  the 
rails,  we  placed  the  stones  in  a  wall 
directly  under  them,  throwing  others 
down  both  sides,  thus  making  the  work 
substantial. 

After  this  job  was  completed  and 
the  road  had  been  used  some  days, 
Charles  Storrow,  then  a  director  on  the 
road,  said,  "  Had  that  happened  on  the 
Boston  and  Lowell  road  and  been  re- 
paired in  the  usual  way,  it  would  have 
cost  the  corporation  more  than  $1000," 


270  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON: 

but  the  whole  expense  here  was  only 
$53. 

Another  witness.  Onslow  Stearns, 
agent  for  building  the  Northern  road, 
once  said  to  me,  "  Sheldon,  your  filling 
up  that  hole  at  Ward  Hill,  as  you  did, 
has  saved  the  Northern  Railroad  Co. 
many  thousand  dollars,  through  their 
adopting  the  same  plan." 

Were  this  mode  of  building  embank- 
ments adopted,  where  stone  is  plenty,  it 
would  be  found  a  labor-saving  opera- 
tion above  the  old  fashioned,  perpen- 
dicular wall,  where  sometimes  many 
feet  must  be  laid  in  mud  and  water,  a 
most  repulsive  work. 

Reader,  remember  this  night's  work 
was  done  for  the  corporation  whose 
agent  afterwards  ruined  me. 

I  went  to  Brookline  to  build  a  Coun- 
ty road  over  half  a  mile  of  marsh  and 
another  half  a  mile  through  orchards, 
gardens  and  strawberry  beds,  and  then 
through  a  piece  of  reclaimed  swamp 
where  English  grass  was  mowed.  The 
road  was  an  expensive  one,  and  the 
greatest  saving  in  calculation,  in  the 
whole  job,  was  in  laying  a  strip  of 
marsh  grass  each  side  of  the  road  and 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  271 

raking  it  in  for  the  horses  to  travel  on 
while  carting  on  the  first  gravel.  After 
the  road  was  completed  over  the  re- 
claimed swamp,  and  we  had  passed 
over  it  with  heavy  loads  for  several 
days,  down  went  about  ten  rods  of  it 
out  of  sight,  and  at  once  water  flowed 
over  to  the  depth  of  thirty-five  feet. 
To  buy  the  gravel  and  fill  up  this  enor- 
mous mouth  was  quite  an  expense,  but 
as  I  took  the  job  by  the  yard  it  only 
made  more  work  for  us. 

Whenever  I  think  of  the  committee 
who  engaged  me  to  do  this  work,  it 
brings  to  mind  what  Christ  said  to  his 
disciples,  "  Have  not  I  chosen  you 
twelve  and  one  of  you  is  a  devil."  I 
firmly  believe  the  treasurer  and  com- 
mittee, save  one,  to  be  true,  Christian 
men,  and  likewise,  judging  from  the 
Scripture,  "  A  tree  is  known  by  its 
fruits,"  many  of  the  neighbors  to  whom 
I  was  sometimes  indebted. 

In  the  month  of  February,  1856,  I 
was  visited  with  the  severest  fit  of  sick- 
ness I  ever  suffered.  I  was  first  at- 
tacked with  pleurisy ;  that  increased  so 
fast  that  my  family,  anxious  for  my 


272  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

safety,  sent  the  next  day  for  Dr.  Ed- 
mund F.  Kittredge,  of  New  Ipswich, 
N.  H.,  now  of  Lowell,  Mass.  He  pro- 
nounced the  disease  Typhoid  Pneu- 
monia of  a  malignant  type.  The  fever 
run  high ;  my  pulse  for  several  days 
ranged  as  high  as  a  hundred  and  thirty 
and  a  hundred  and  forty.  I  lost  all 
consciousness  from  the  first,  but  my 
faithful  family  and  friends  were  unre- 
mitting in  their  attention.  Nathaniel 
Parker — mentioned  in  a  former  page 
as  among  the  friends  in  need — was 
sure  that  I  could  not  get  well ;  it  would 
be  as  great  a  miracle  as  any  performed 
in  Scripture  times.  The  next  week  as 
my  wife  was  watching  me  and  the  fam- 
ily were  eating  dinner,  a  sudden  change, 
she  said,  come  over  my  countenance. 
All  left  the  table  in  anxious  surprise. 
"  Oh,"  said  Parker,  with  uplifted  hands, 
"he  is  gone ;  I  told  you  how  it  would 
be." 

The  doctor,  who  was  present,  re- 
plied, "  He  may  live  to  lay  cents  on 
your  eyes.  Rub  his  extremities  quick- 
ly, and  wet  a  cloth  in  hot  vinegar  and 
lay  it  on  his  stomach  as  soon  as  possi- 
ble." This  was  at  once  done,  and  the 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  273 

breathing  improved  and  the  symptoms 
became  better. 

He  administered  some  reviving  spirit 
and  continued  to  feed  with  the  same. 
He  remained  with  me  three  successive 
days  and  nights  and  soon  consciousness 
began  to  return.  He  did  not  blister  or 
bleed ;  gave  no  emetic  or  physic,  yet 
he  carried  me  through  as  I  believe  few 
others  could. 

With  heartfelt  gratitude  to  Dr.  Kitt- 
redge  I  must  say,  "  Under  God,  to  him 
I  owe  my  life."  It  was  a  wonderful 
mercy  in  kind  Providence  that  brought 
him  here  at  my  time  of  greatest  need. 

"  He  could  not  have  lived  without 
extra  effort,"  said  the  doctor.  Then 
never  give  up  friends  sick  with  fever 
as  long  as  life  lasts ;  no,  not  even  when 
life  is  apparently  gone.  Many,  doubt- 
less, pass  out  of  the  world  that  an  ex- 
tra effort  would  have  restored  and 
brought  back  to  life  and  health  again. 

Mr.  Parker  died  two  years  ago. 

This  Dr.  Kittredge  is  grandson  of 
him  who  so  faithfully  watched  by  me 
while  laid  up  with  the  broken  leg. 


274  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 


HINTS  TO  STONE  LAYERS. 

After  having  so  much  experience  in 
stone-laying,  and  after  the  many  tests 
my  work  has  undergone,  I  feel  confi- 
dent that  no  work  of  mine  will  fail, 
unless  by  some  great  convulsion  of  na- 
ture, or  removal  by  designing  hands ; 
and  for  the  benefit  of  the  rising  gener- 
ation, I  propose  to  give  some  directions 
to  stone-workers. 

FIRST — To  SIGNERS  OF  WELLS. — 
Never,  on  any  account,  lay  the  largest 
end  of  the  stone  in  toward  the  well. 

To  FARMERS.  —  Never  destroy  any 
part  of  the  strength  of  your  wall  for 
the  sake  of  making  it  look  handsome 
on  a  farm.  In  reality  those  farm  walls 
always  look  handsomest  that  stand  best. 
There  has  been  no  better  way  found  to 
lay  farm  walls  than  on  large  foundation 
stones,  placed  on  cobbles.  In  laying  a 
wall  on  low,  frosty  ground,  where  it  is 
necessary  to  trench,  I  would  recom- 
mend to  fill  the  trench  with  that  kind 
of  dry  gravel  before  mentioned  for 
railroad  trenches,  walks,  &c.,  if  it  can 
be  had  conveniently,  or  with  sand  if 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  275 

that  cannot  be  procured.  Either  of 
these  are  better  than  small  stones  for 
two  reasons.  First,  mud  will  work  in 
among  small  stones,  freeze  and  heave 
the  wall.  Second,  it  will  give  more  en- 
couragement to  the  growth  of  briars 
and  brush  than  gravel  will. 

LAYING  CULVERTS.  —  Always  make 
the  up-stream  end  of  the  culvert  nar- 
rower than  any  other  part;  this  will 
prevent  anything  entering  it  that  cannot 
go  through.  Always  lay  the  biggest 
side  of  the  covering  stones  downward ; 
this  will  make  the  joints  widest  on  the 
top,  they  will  thereby  receive  a  wedge 
that  will  not  go  through. 

CELLAR  WALL. — In  laying  them  al- 
ways build  them  plumb.  Then  the 
building  resting  on  the  top  will  be  in 
no  danger  of  falling  in.  To  make 
a  good  cellar  wall  a  stone  should  have 
three  good  sides,  bed,  build  and  face. 
Back  and  ends  have  not  much  to  do 
either  with  strength  or  beauty. 

BANK  WALL. — It  is  necessary  to  have 
one  course  of  stones  below  the  surface, 
on  the  base  of  the  wall,  then  have  the 
front  of  the  wall  placed  on  the  centre 
of  them.  Those  stones  that  are  placed 


276  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

below  the  surface  need  not  of  necessity, 
be  very  large,  and  it  is  immaterial  of 
what  shape.  What  is  termed  cobble 
stones,  the  size  of  a  peck  measure,  will 
answer  a  good  purpose. 

If  you  want  to  build  your  wall  five 
feet  high,  and  have  it  stand  centimes, 
as  I  am  sure  you  do,  then  make  the 
base  half  the  thickness  of  the  height, 
and  barter  it  on  front  at  least  one  and 
one-half  inch  to  the  foot.  Mind  and 
never  put  so  small  stones  on  the  top 
that  a  dog  running  over  them  will  l^nock 
them  off.  If  the  soil  be  clay,  take  it 
out  a  few  inches  wider  than  the  wall 
and  fill  in  back  with  good  gravel  stones, 
otherwise  the  clay  will  run  in  among 
the  stones,  freeze,  and  heave  them,  and 
thus  injure  the  wall. 


MILCH    COWS. 

m 

Until  recently  I  have  never  realized 
the  value  of  tnilch  cows,  and  believe 
but  few  do  rJtlize  it  as  yet.  Milk,  but- 
ter and  che&£  are  not  all  the  benefits 
we  derive  from  the  cow.  Every  crea- 
ture that  is  slaughtered  in  Eastern  mar- 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  277 

kets,  gained  the  first  $3  worth  on  an 
average  from  milk.  In  New  York  and 
Massachusetts,  there  are  not  less  than 
ten  thousand  cattle  and  calves  slaugh- 
tered, on  an  average,  every  week  ; 
allowing  $3  to  each  one,  (which  is  a 
low  estimate),  the  amount  is  $1,560,000 
in  one  year  for  these  two  States  alone. 

How  many  varieties  can  be  realized 
from  milk.  Nearly  all  our  calf-skin 
leather  is  produced  from  milk.  Im- 
mense quantities  of  milk  are  used  for 
food  for  children,  with  great  economy 
and  propriety.  Besides  the  immense 
amount  of  milk,  butter  and  cheese  con- 
sumed by  the  human  family,  not  less 
than  fifty  pounds  of  pork  can  be  reckon- 
ed on,  by  good  management,  from  each 
cow,  arising  from  sour  milk,  butter- 
milk, whey,  &c.  Now  is  it  not  of  the 
utmost  importance  that  we  select  the 
very  best  cows  ? 

POINTS  OF  A  GOOD  MILCH  Cow. — A 
bright,  hazel  eye ;  long,  lean  face ; 
wide  between  the  eyes  ;  flat  horns,  not 
very  large  at  the  base ;  pretty  large 
sack,  with  room  for  her  own  dinner ; 
thin  hides ;  small  leg  bones ;  large 
cavity  on  the  front  of  the  shoulder 


278  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

joint ;  large  milk  veins,  and  milk  holes 
— if  you  can  find  forked  milk  veins, 
with  two  holes  on  each  side,  it  is  an 
extra  mark,  seldom  found ;  well  spread 
bag,  running  well  forwards ;  yellow 
skin ;  four  good  sized  teats,  standing 
well  apart ;  two  small  ones  behind  call- 
ed false  teats ;  slim  tail ;  and  as  good 
a  sign  as  any  to  be  found  is,  open  ribs, 
with  space  wide  enough  between  the 
two  last  to  admit  of  three  fingers  laid 
in.  If  the  cow  is  wanted  for  butter 
exclusively,  the  horn  should  be  trans- 
parent. This  mark  I  first  received  from 
Mrs.  Dea.  Parker.  Hearing  I  had  an 
extraordinary  heifer,  the  good  old  lady 
came  over  to  see  it.  While  walking  in 
front  of  the  stall,  she  exclaimed, 
"  Here  is  a  heifer  that  will  make  a 
good  cow,  I  care  nothing  about  your 
father's  great  heifers." 

"Why,"  said  son  Horace,  who  was 
showing  her  round,  "  what  do  you  see 
in  that  heifer,  Mrs.  Parker,  to  admire?" 

"  Why  her  horns  are  all  butter,"  said 
she.  "  I  have  taken  care  of  a  dairy 
more  than  fifty  years,  and  I  never  knew 
it  to  fail." 

In  fact  that  was  the  very  heifer  she 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  279 

came  to  see.  I  have  noted  it  ever  since 
and  found  it  so.  Mrs.  Parker  was  con- 
sidered an  extraordinary  dairy  woman ; 
her  butter,  as  well  as  that  of  her  daugh- 
ter Buck's,  always  commanding  the 
highest  market  price. 

To  purchasers  I  would  say,  when- 
ever you  find  these  marks,  you  need 
not  inquire  what  breed  she  is  of;  you 
will  be  sure  to  get  a  good  cow. 

With  regard  to  color,  I  prefer  light 
red  or  brindle,  because  they  descended 
from  the  Black  Spanish,  and  Denmark 
cattle,  imported  into  Dover  nearly  two 
hundred  years  ago .  From  them  I  think 
sprang  the  best  race  of  dairy  stock  this 
country  has  ever  been  in  possession  of. 
to.  I  would  not  reject  a  cow  on  ac- 
count of  color,  if  she  possessed  the 
marks  before  mentioned. 

From  experience  I  feel  safe  in  saying 
that  a  woman  who  is  a  good  manager 
would,  from  the  products  of  two  good 
cows  well  kept,  maintain  the  year  round, 
a  family  of  four,  say  herself,  husband, 
and  two  children,  and  pay  a  reasonable 
tax  on  the  cows,  pasture  and  home-lot. 
If  her  husband  pay  the  expense  of 
keeping  the  cows,  it  would  be  all  re- 


280  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

quired  for  the  maintenance  of  his  fam- 
ily. This  will  apply  to  any  location 
within  fifteen  miles  of  Boston. 

In  looking  over  the  utility  of  animals, 
I  am  constrained  to  say,  if  we  could 
have  but  one  kind  of  animals,  cow, 
horse,  sheep  or  hog,  the  cow  must  be 
preferred. 


OXEN. 

SIGNS  OF  A  GOOD  WORKING  Ox. — 
Bright  hazel  eye,  which  denotes  intel- 
lect, or  a  disposition  to  receive  instruc- 
tion, and  a  readiness  to  obey  it ;  lean, 
long  head ;  broad  between  the  eyes ; 
wide,  open  nostrils ;  horns  not  more 
than  medium  size  at  the  base — these 
show  an  ox  keen  to  pull  and  one  that 
can  endure  the  heat  of  the  day ;  straight 
knees ;  toes  pointing  straight  forward — 
these  show  that  the  ox  can  travel  on 
pavement,  or  hard,  frozen  ground ;  full 
bosom  ;  round  in  the  chest ;  last  ribs 
projecting  out  as  large  as  the  hip  bones; 
straight  on  the  back  ;  small  tail ;  wide 
across  the  gambrel ;  large  cord  at  the 
gambrel — these  last  mentioned  marks 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  281 

denote  strength  and  constitution ;  when 
he  stands  his  hind  feet  should  be  well 
in  under  him — this  shows  his  limbs 
were  made  to  carry  his  body,  and  will 
carry  it  easily. 

Short  heads  will  start  quick  at  the 
whip  but  soon  forget  it — generally  eye 
servants ;  horns  large  at  the  base,  with 
small  nostrils,  is  not  likely  to  work  well 
in  a  hot  day;  black  eyes  and  black 
nose,  inclined  to  both  kick  and  run 
away;  picked  toes  and  turning  out, 
crooked  knees  and  turning  together, 
cannot  travel  on  hard  roads ;  the  toes 
turning  out  brings  the  strain  upon  the 
inside  claws,  which  long  continued, 
produces  lameness  at  the  joint  between 
the  hoof  and  hair,  or  what  is  called 
ring-bone ;  if  his  hind  legs  are  too  far 
behind  him,  it  denotes  laziness ;  if  the 
ribs  drop  down  flat,  not  being  so  wide 
through  the  ribs  as  through  the  hip 
bones,  he  has  no  great  constitution. 

It  is  said,  "  There  are  exceptions  to 
general  rules,"  but  these  signs  may 
generally  be  relied  upon. 

While  walking  near  Quincy  Market, 
Boston,  one  day,  I  met  a  man  who  in- 
vited me  to  go  with  him,  which  I  did. 


282  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

He  purchased  a  nice  turkey  and  pre- 
sented it  to  me,  saying,  "Accept  this 
as  a  token  of  gratitude  for  the  benefits 
I  have  derived  from  practicing  your 
directions  for  selecting  good  working 
oxen.  I  have  practiced  them  since  I 
first  had  occasion  to  buy  oxen."  Be- 
fore I  could  ascertain  his  name  he  had 
disappeared  in  the  crowd. 

SHOEING  OXEN. — The  shoe  should  be 
broad  on  the  foot,  and  be  set  back  at 
the  heel  about  Ijalf  an  inch  further 
than  what  the  /oot  touches.  At  the 
toe,  it  should  not  come  quite  to  the  end 
of  it.  If  the  toe  is  very  picked,  it 
should  not  come  nearer  than  about  an 
inch  of  the  end.  If  the  toe  be  short 
and  broad  it  should  come  almost  to  the 
end  of  the  toe. 

POINTS  OF  AN  Ox  FOR  TENDER  BEEF. — 
Smoky  color;  long,  coarse  hair;  thin 
hide,  this  may  be  told  by  pinching  it 
up  between  the  thumb  and  finger ;  flat 
ribs  ;  wide  hip  bones,  quite  hollow  un- 
derneath ;  then  if  he  be  only  fat  you 
need  not  fear,  even  though  he  is  the 
worst  looking  animal  you  ever  put  your 
eye  on.  These  points  apply  to  all  horn- 
ed creatures. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.                  283 
HOW  TO  SALT  BEEF  TO  KEEP  A  YEAR. 

Take  four  quarts  of  coarse  fine  salt, 
four  pounds  of  brown  sugar,  one  ounce 
saltpetre,  mix  well  together,  to  one 
hundred  pounds  of  beef,  packed  as 
solid  as  it  can  be ;  put  a  board  on  top 
of  the  meat  in  the  barrel,  and  a  stand- 
ard to  reach  from  this  board  to  a  tim- 
ber in  the  floor  overhead;  drive  in  a 
wedge  to  keep  the  standard  tight,  and 
the  meat  will  settle  for  two  or  three 
days.  To  prevent  the  bottom  head 
from  bursting  out,  a  small  bit  of  board 
should  be  placed  under  the  barrel  with- 
in the  chines,  before  the  meat  is  salted, 
which  should  be  done  soon  after  the 
animal  heat  is  out.  No  water  should 
be  used,  as  it  takes  out  the  juice  of 
the  meat  and  turns  it  green  and  makes 
it  hard.  When  a  piece  is  taken  out, 
and  the  brine  will  not  cover,  put  in 'a, 
small  stone  and  cover  the  board  on 
again. 


EAISING    BULLS. 

e 

be  sure 


RAISING    BULLS. 

If  the  object  is  to  raise  dairy  stock, 
3  sure  your  bull  calf  is  from  your  best 

•*. 


284  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

dairy  cow,  and  the  color  of  the  skin 
about  the  bag  should  be  the  same  as  of 
a  good  cow — yellow.  A  four  teated 
bull  is  preferable,  but  this  is  rare.  My 
plan  is  to  raise  two  bull  calves  together 
and  break  them  to  yoke  quite  small; 
and  I  have  found  that  they  were  worth 
more  than  oxen  to  plow  in  my  reclaim- 
ed swamp  when  two  years  old,  as  they 
were  light  of  their  strength  and  could 
go  where  heavy  oxen  could  not.  I 
have  likewise  found  them  very  useful 
in  carting  hay  from  miry  meadows.  If 
a  bull  will  be  worth  anything  to  work, 
he  can  be  bandied  easier  than  a  steer. 
Some  are  so  stubborn  one  should  never 
try  to  handy  them.  To  put  on  a  light 
yoke,  if  you  have  a  good,  clear  pasture, 
and  let  them  run  in  it  when  six  months 
old,  is  a  good  plan.  I  once  owned  a 
pair  that  led  on  a  load  of  wood  for  four 
miles  and  drew  finely,  quite  as  much  as 
I  wanted  them  to,  when  only  ten  months 
old.  I  have  one  of  them  now.  I  be- 
lieve that  a  pair  of  one-year-old  bulls 
will  draw  as  much  as  a  pair  of  two- 
year-old  steers.  To  take  a  loaded  wag- 
on to  Concord  Cattle  Show,  I  once  put 
a  pair  of  eighteen  months  old  bulls  to 


WILMINGTON  FARMER,  285 

lead,  and  the  teamster  thought  that 
they  helped  as  much  as  a  horse.  They 
certainly  do  more  work  according  to 
their  keeping,  than  steers  or  oxen.  I 
should  not  like  to  keep  one  older  than 
three  years,  lest  he  become  cross. 


RAISING  HEIFER  CALVES. 

It  is  highly  important  that  heifer 
calves  should  be  selected  from  the  best 
cows,  but  more  important  is  it  that  their 
sire  should  be  from  the  best  cow.  Do 
not  attempt  to  raise  a  heifer  calf  with- 
out first  examining  her  teats.  When 
they  are  about  forty  hours  old,  you  may 
satisfy  yourself  about  their  good  points, 
quite  as  well  as  at  any  time  before 
they  are  two  years  old,  as  many  of  them 
are  about  the  same  as  the  cows,  espec- 
ially the  bag  and  teats. 

Do  not  keep  your  calves  too  high  on 
milk  the  first  summer,  because  they 
should  be  kept  up  to  that  standard 
through  the  winter.  This  I  deem  of 
great  importance  and  applicable  to  all 
kinds  of  calves ;  indeed  all  growing 
animals  should  be  kept  on  the  advance. 


286  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

I  once  took  a  number  of  heifer  calves, 
I  think  ten,  to  Concord  Cattle  Show. 
After  the  show,  Mr.  Buckminster,  edi- 
tor of  the  Massachusetts  Ploughman, 
said  in  his  paper,  that  he  saw  a  pen  of 
calves  labelled,  "  Native  breed;  A.  G. 
Sheldon,  Wilmington."  He  observed 
that  the  spectators  said,  "  Those  calves 
looked  as  though  the  very  skimmed 
milk  they  were  raised  on  was  watered." 
The  spectators  were  men  of  excellent 
judgment,  for  they  were  raised  on  that 
very  article  —  skimmed  milk,  indian 
meal  and  water.  I  sold  one  of  these 
calves,  when  two  years  old,  for  $50, 
and  have  frequently  heard  her  owner 
say  that  he  would  not  take  $100  for 
her.  Some  of  them  that  I  now  know 
of,  cannot  be  bought  for  less  than  $100 
each.  Seldom  does  a  heifer  that  is 
doated  upon  and  fed  very  high  on  milk, 
fully  answer  the  expectation  of  the 
owner. 

"  The  size  of  a  bullock  depends  on 
the  first  year."  This  is  an  adage  that 
is  nearly  true.  I  am  fully  of  opinion 
that  more  depends  on  the  first  winter 
than  on  any  other  period  of  the  same 
length  in  his  history.  They  should 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  287 

have  tender  hay,  some  roots,  rutabagas 
or  carrots,  and  oatmeal,  which  is  pre- 
ferable to  any  other. 

Early  calves  are  preferable  for  rais- 
ing to  late  ones.  March  calves  are 
decidedly  best,  yet  April  will  do,  but  I 
would  not  raise  one  that  come  in  May, 
unless  it  was  something  extraordinary ; 
for  this  reason,  it  could  not  be  turned 
to  grass  until  the  feed  was  tough,  and 
in  consequence  would  not  do  so  well. 


ON  FEEDING  STOCK. 

It  is  a  great  piece  of  economy  in 
feeding  cattle  in  the  barn,  to  cut  all 
their  hay,  except  the  last  feeding  at 
night,  which  should  be  whole  hay.  If 
there  be  any  left  in  the  moniing  that  is 
fit  to  eat,  I  should  put  it  in  the  cutter 
and  give  it  to  them  again.  Chopped 
feed  should  always  be  wet,  and  with 
hot  water  if  circumstances  will  permit. 
Corn  stalks  are  excellent  for  milch  cows 
whether  top  stalks  or  husks ;  also,  ru- 
tabagas, carrots  and  parsnips  are  all 
good,  but  I  have  never  been  able  to 
determine  which  is  best  according  to 


288  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

the  cost.  I  think  best  to  sow  all  of 
these  roots,  so  that  if  one  kind  should 
not  succeed  the  others  might.  The 
more  experience  I  have  of  pumpkins, 
the  more  I  am  in  favor  of  them ;  they 
certainly  add  to  the  quantity  and  to  the 
quality  of  the  butter. 

My  experience  in  molasses  is,  that 
one  half  pint  given  to  a  good  cow  will 
give  you  four  ounces  of  butter.  It 
should  be  given  in  chopped  feed  by 
sweetening  the  water.  This  is  design- 
ed solely  for  chopped  feed ;  when  a 
cow  grazes  she  has  no  need  of  it,  or 
anything  else,  if  she  has  plenty  of  good 
grass.  Where  molasses  is  used  with 
chopped  feed,  a  little  salt  should  be 
added. 

I  endorse  the  opinion  of  Hon.  Josiah 
Quincy,  Jr.,  that  "  a  cow  is  a  machine; 
you  can  get  nothing  out  of  her  but 
what  you  put  into  her ;  but  let  us  re- 
member, the  better  the  machine  and 
the  better  order  it  is  kept  in,  the  bet- 
ter pay  we  shall  get  for  running  it." 

A  few  sweet  apples  given  occasion- 
ally to  cows,  horses  or  hogs,  are  excel- 
lent to  keep  them  in  a  healthy  condition. 
I  think  a  horse  would  never  have  botts 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  289 

if  he  had  half  a  peck  of  sweet  apples 
once  in  ten  days.  Regularity,  as  it 
respects  time  and  quantity,  is  of  great 
importance  in  feeding  all  kinds  of  stock. 

Occasional  messes  to  milch  cows  not 
only  do  them  no  good,  but  sometimes 
are  decidedly  injurious.  In  the  month 
of  June,  I  once  had  a  bushel  of  good 
French  turnips  chopped  and  given  to 
five  cows  that  were  grazing.  The  next 
morning  their  milk  had  shrunk  down 
to  one  half.  Surprised  at  the  result,  I 
cast  about  to  understand  it.  I  found 
the  secret  in  the  fact,  that  the  turnips 
took  away  their  appetite  for  grass  and 
caused  them  to  wait  around  for  more. 

In  case  of  short  grazing,  cow-corn, 
as  it  is  commonly  called,  is  very  eco- 
nomical, but  it  should  always  be  given 
them  at  night  and  in  the  bam,  as  their 
appetite  will  then  be  good  for  feed  in 
the  morning.  To  put  them  in  the  barn 
may  be  thought  too  much  trouble,  but 
I  think  from  experience  a  cow's  extra 
mess  is  lost  if  given  anywhere  else. 
It  may  seem  simple,  but  try  the  experi- 
ment and  you  will  know  for  yourselves. 
Common  corn  is  as  much  better  than 
Virginia  corn,  as  English  hay  is  better 


290  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

than  Meadow  hay,  and  sweet  com  is 
better  than  either. 

The  foregoing  hints  on  calf  feeding 
are  designed  for  locations  where  milk 
is  worth  three  cents  per  quart  or  more. 
Those  who  live  far  back  from  the  sea- 
board, where  milk  is  worth  but  little, 
are  better  judges  in  their  own  cases 
than  I  am. 

To  PURCHASERS  OF  Cows. — There 
may  be  good  cows  in  every  breed 
among  us.  Although  I  am  much 
in  favor  of  native  breed,  still  I  would 
not  advise  the  rejection  of  a  cow  on  ac- 
count of  her  breed  if  she  carries  good 
marks,  or  give  a  large  price  for  one  on 
account  of  her  breed  without  those 
marks. 


TRAINING  OXEN  AND  STEERS. 

Every  steer  should  have  a  name.  If 
he  has  none  be  sure  to  give  him  one 
the  first  tune  he  is  yoked.  Be  sure 
and  make  each  one  understand  .  his 
own  name  and  know  when  you  speak 
to  him ;  and  when  you  do  speak,  say 
just  what  ytou  mean.  Be  just  as  par- 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  291 

ticular  in  your  language  with  them  as 
you  would  be  with  children.  When 
you  tell  them  to  haw-to,  or  gee-off,  be 
sure  to  make  them  mind  you.  Let  the 
word  "  whoa,"  or  any  other  word  you 
may  choose  to  substitute,  denote  "stop," 
and  always  make  them  stop  at  that,  and 
never  use  it  at  any  other  time.  If  used 
at  other  times  they  will  not  know  when 
to  stop.  A  team  should  stop  short  at 
the  word  "whoa;"  and  they  will,  if 
they  never  hear  it  at  any  other  time. 
Bad  results  may  follow  their  not  being 
accustomed  to  do  so. 

If  too  lazy  or  too  tired  to  walk  be- 
side your  team,  never  whip  them  while 
riding,  this  will  make  them  haul  apart. 
When  your  team  is  moving  just  as  you 
want  to  have  them,  be  sure  to  keep 
your  whip  and  your  tongue  perfectly 
still.  When  I  see  a  man  doing  this  I 
know  he  is  more  than  a  middling  team- 
ster. Oxen  or  steers,  when  going  per- 
fectly right,  should  never  be  meddled 
with,  any  more  than  boys  should  be 
muttered  at  when  they  are  doing  per- 
fectly right. 

Always  have  some  particular  word 
to  start  your  team  with.  Sly  starting 


292  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

word  is  "  come."  I  always  give  them 
notice,  and  when  up  to  the  bow  and 
ready,  I  speak  the  word  "  come,"  and 
if  either  ox  does  not  attend  to  his  busi- 
ness at  that  word,  he  is  sure  to  feel  the 
whip.  I  once  knew  a  man,  a  good 
man,  and  a  good  farmer,  and  I  pre- 
sume that  he  thought  he  knew  how  to 
drive  a  team  as  well  as  any  body,  but 
he  never  handied  his  off  ox.  He  drove 
the  nigh  ox  and  let  the  off  one  go  as 
he  pleased.  When  driving  in  hay,  and 
when  near  to  the  barn-yard,  he  would 
begin  to  cry  "  whoa,"  "  whoa,"  about 
as  fast  as  he  could  speak.  I  once  had 
the  curiosity  to  count  how  many  times 
he  said  it  after  he  arrived  at  the  barn- 
yard bars,  and  it  amounted  to  one  hun- 
dred and  thirteen  times.  Still  the  oxen 
increased  their  speed  until  they  got  into 
the  barn  and  were  prevented  from  going 
further.  Doubtless  they  would  have 
gone  in  as  well  if  he  had  not  said  one 
word,  and  stopped  as  well,  because  they 
could  not  help  it.  How  can  an  officer 
command  men  unless  he  has  a  particu- 
lar word  for  a  particular  movement? 
and  how,  I  wish  to  know,  can  we  expect 
oxen  to  understand  better  than  men  ? 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  293 

Steers  should  never  be  made  to  draw 
a  load  from  home  first.  If  they  are  to 
be  put  in  with  other  cattle,  which  I  like 
best,  let  them  go  from  home  empty  and 
draw  a  load  toward  home  first. 

George  Blanchard,  of  this  town,  who 
has  been  successful  in  training  steers, 
has  used  bits  like  a  horse's,  and  by 
this  means  he  has  them  completely  un- 
der his  command,  and  can  plow  be- 
tween corn  and  potatoes  with  either 
nigh  or  oif  ox. 

It  is  quite  convenient  to  have  cattle 
that  will  back  well.  This,  like  every- 
thing else,  should  be  learned  young. 
The  best  way  I  ever  found,  was  to  go 
'  directly  in  front  of  them  and  slap  each 
at  the  same  time  on  the  nose,  with  the 
open  palm  of  the  hand,  and  both  will 
fly  back  together.  Cattle  that  are  well 
trained,  I  am  satisfied  can  back  more 
than  they  can  possibly  draw.  By  hitch- 
ing their  heads  next  the  stone  they  can 
lift  a  larger  stone  out  of  a  hole  than 
they  can  draw  out,  because  the  chain 
will  draw  against  the  bank  the  first  way. 
This  is  convenient  in  loading  stone  upon 
a  drag  and  in  laying  stone  wall.  Let 
me  give  an  illustration.  Once  two  el- 


294  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

derly  gentlemen,  working  on  the  high- 
way, each  with  a  yoke  of  oxen,  made 
a  vain  attempt  to  draw  a  huge  stone 
out  of  a  hole.  They  then  invited  Isaac 
Damon,  my  hired  hand,  to  put  on  my 
cattle  and  help  them.  Damon  said, 
"  I  will  not  put  my  team  on  with  yours, 
but  take  yours  off  and  I  will  get  the 
stone  out."  They  made  another  trial 
and  gave  out,  the  oldest  man  saying, 
"  Let  the  fool  try  once."  While  Da- 
mon was  hitching  the  chain  into  the 
ring,  with  the  cattle's  heads  next  the 
the  stone,  the  men  standing  by  eyeing 
Mm,  he  said,  "  Go  along  to  work,  I 
want  you  to  earn  ninepence  while  I 
draw  out  this  stone." 

These  oxen  had  been  so  trained  to 
the  business,  that  they  would  actually 
hold  down  their  heads  for  the  chain  to 
be  fastened.  So  when  he  was  all  ready, 
with  their  heads  as  low  as  would  give 
them  a  good  footing  on  the  bank,  he 
pronounced  an  emphatical  "  back,"  and 
out  came  the  stone,  much  to  their  as- 
tonishment. "  There  boys,"  said  Da- 
mon, "  the  stone  is  out."  "  I  would 
not  have  believed  it,"  said  one  of  the 
farmers,  "  if  I  had  not  seen  it  myself." 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  295 

I  have  on  a  former  page  recommend- 
ed bulls  in  preference  to  steers,  yet 
large,  well  trained  oxen,  to  do  heavy 
work  on  a  farm,  are  decidedly  prefer- 
able to  small  ones.  There  is  not  so 
much  difference  in  keeping  as  is  gen- 
erally supposed.  To  prove  the  differ- 
ence in  the  work  of  large  and  small 
cattle,  I  introduce  another  illustration. 

When  acting  in  the  capacity  of  As- 
sessor in  this  town,  I  took  special  notice 
of  the  different  management  of  farms, 
and  found  the  two  greatest  extremes 
that  came  under  my  eye,  lay  close  to- 
gether. A  youth  of  fifteen,  with  a 
large,  handy  pair  of  oxen  and  good 
plough,  was  turning  the  furrows  over 
straight  and  clean,  on  May  1st.  Near 
by  was  a  man,  with  a  grown  son,  using 
a  poor  plough,  with  a  yoke  of  cattle 
and  a  horse.  I  noticed  that  the  boy 
went  three  rounds  to  their  two,  they 
having  frequently  to  stop  and  turn  the 
mislaid  furrows  over  with  their  hands. 
Here  popped  into  my  mind  what  Frank- 
lin said  in  the  eighteenth  century — 

"  The  man  that  by  the  plough  would  thrive, 
Himself  must  either  hold  or  drive." 

This  man,  thought  I,  was  acting  up  to 


296  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

Franklin's  rule,  but  he  was  one  century 
behind  the  times,  for  we  live  in  a  day 
of  great  improvements,  and  the  time 
has  already  come  when 

"  He  that  by  the  plough  would  thrive, 
Will  find  he  must  both  hold  and  drive." 

Still  another  illustration.  My  team 
of  six  oxen  was  driven  by  my  son 
Horace  to  plough  some  hard  and  rather 
rocky  pasture  land,  all  day,  before  he 
was  five  years  of  age ;  and  he  manag- 
ed the  team  as  well  as  a  man  could 
have  managed  it.  Here  are  two  con- 
siderations, —  Horace  was  a  natural 
teamster,  and  the  team  was  well  train- 
ed. I  would  here  add,  than  an  ox  that 
cannot  be  brought  to  obedience  with 
fair  means,  at  least  without  beating  and 
banging,  had  better  be  saved  the  abuse 
and  taken  to  the  slaughter  house  at 
once.  In  short,  be  kind  and  gentle  to 
all,  yes,  all  animals. 
»  Was  not  the  farmer  and  son  above 
referred  to,  carrying  out  the  theory, 
"  There  is  no  profit  in  farming,"  while 
the  youth  was  as  strongly  maintaining 
the  position,  "There  is  profit  in  farm- 
ing?" 

I  once  knew  a  man  to  hire  of  his 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  297 

neighbor  a  pair  of  noble  oxen,  and  a 
smooth  running  plough  to  plough  pas- 
ture land  with  some  kill-lamb.     After 
using  the  team  and  plough  a  day,  he 
took  them  home  on  account  of  the  high 
price,  $1.50  per  day.      While  using 
this  team  his  son  alone  ploughed  one 
acre  per  day,  and  did  the  work  well. 
He  then  hired  a  smaller  pair  at  75  cts. 
per  day,  and  added  his  horse  to  make 
out  a  team,  and  went  driver  himself, 
the  same  son  holding  the  plough,  and 
ploughed  one-half  acre  per  day,  accom- 
plishing in  two  days  more  than  his  son 
performed  in  one.      Thus  it  cost  the 
same  amount  of  money  for  oxen  to 
plough  one  acre  that  it  cost  with  the 
first  team,  and  making  an  entire  loss  of 
two  days  of  his  own  labor,  two  days  of 
his  horse,  and  one  day  of  his  son's,  be- 
sides their  board.     Didn't  he  try  a  two- 
fold experiment,  and  prove  in  strong 
terms  both  theories  before  alluded  to'? 

The  first  stages  of  education  in  all 
animals  is  highly  important.  Impress- 
ions first  given  are  more  enduring  and 
easier  made  before  they  come  in  con- 
tact with  long  established  habits. 
It  is  fondly  hoped  that  these  few 


298  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

suggestions  respecting  gentleness  and 
tact  in  the  education  of  our  beasts,  will 
be  duly  appreciated,  pondered  and  put 
in  practice. 

To  BREAK  A  COLT  TO  CARRIAGE,  WHO 

IS     ALREADY    HARNESS-BROKEN. Put    a 

horse  in  the  carriage  that  the  colt  is 
acquainted  with,  and  ride  two  or  three 
miles  from  home.  Then  change  and 
put  the  colt  in  the  thills  and  let  another 
person  ride  the  horse  back  forward  of 
the  carriage  and  he  will  be  likely  to 
travel  homewards  after  the  horse  with- 
out urging.  How  many  times  people 
harness  a  colt  in  their  own  yard  and 
beat  him  to  drive  him  away  from  home 
against  his  will,  when  he  knows  no 
more  what  he  is  whipped  for  than  a 
child  in  the  cradle. 

All  young  creatures  on  their  first 
trial,  should  have  some  inducement  to 
urge  them  on  the  way  you  wish  them 
to  go.  If  beaten  to  make  them  go 
against  their  will,  it  increases  their 
stubbornness  and  serves  to  create  a  bad 
disposition.  Be  careful  friends,  that 
you  never  let  your  own  bad  temper 
serve  to  create  the  same  bad  temper  in 
your  animals.  How  many  of  the  best, 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  299 

noble-spirited  horses  are  ruined  through 
the  impatience  and  indiscretion  of  their 
first  trainers. 

I  once  bought  a  horse  that  had  been 
sold  at  auction  for  015.25.  At  the 
time  he  was  sold,  he  was  considered 
worthless  on  account  of  his  contrary 
disposition.  He  was  five  years  old.  I 
called  him  "Flying  Jib."  When  1 
first  harnessed  him,  I  treated  him  very 
gently,  patted  his  neck  and  shoulders, 
breathed  in  his  nostrils,  thus  making 
him  think  he  had  one  friend  in  the 
world.  I  then  jumped  into  the  car- 
riage and  away  he  flew.  I  owned  that 
beast  more  than  one  year,  and  never 
struck  him  a  blow  with  a  whip  or  a 
stick.  To  pat  him.  with  the  hand  I 
found  much  better,  and  he  always  start- 
ed and  stopped  at  bidding,  except  in 
one  instance,  when  I  was  met  on  the 
road  by  a  man  who  had  charge  of  him 
before  I  owned  him.  After  speaking 
a  few  minutes  I  told  the  horse  to  go, 
but  he  refused.  I  then  sat  still,  the 
man  still  continuing  talking,  and  said, 
"  Don't  you  intend  to  try  to  start  ] " 

"  Are  you  willing  to  go  along ;  if 
you  will,  I  think  my  horse  will  start 


LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 


along  too."  He  then  went  on  mutter- 
ing in  disaffection. 

When  fairly  out  of  hearing,  I  said, 
"  Come,"  and  he  manifested  his  usual 
kindness.  Who  will  say  that  this  horse 
did  not  possess  a  good  memory  and  an 
inveterate  enmity  to  that  man"?  He 
never  needed  a  whit  of  urging  to  carry 
me  to  or  from  Medford,  ten  miles,  in 
one  hour.  This  was  his  natural  gait, 
ten  miles  per  hour.  To  drive  cattle  he 
was  the  very  best.  If  an  ox  turned 
away  or  stopped  to  feed,  he  would  turn 
out  after  him  as  quick  as  a  dog,  and 
take  hold  of  the  high  bunch  top  of 
the  rump  with  his  teeth.  Cattle  would 
soon  learn  to  get  out  of  his  way.  Al- 
though high-spirited,  courageous  and 
noble,  he  was  perfectly  safe  to  drive 
day  or  night,  and  if  I  had  him  now  and 
knew  he  was  as  good  as  he  was  when 
I  bought  him,  I  would  not  take  $200 
for  him. 

OMNIBUS  STORY. — One  evening  I  took 
a  seat  in  an  omnibus  at  the  Cattle  Fair 
Hotel  in  Cambridge,  to  ride  into  Bos- 
ton. The  driver,  to  admit  two  ladies, 
went  into  the  gutter,  but  the  horses  re- 
fused to  take  him  out.  After  repeated 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  301 

trials  a  man  came  up  to  tender  assist- 
ance. The  driver  became  angry  and 
answered  tartly.  The  women  were 
frightened  and  one  insisted  on  getting 
out.  "  If  you  will  keep  still,"  said  I, 
"  I  will  get  out  and  that  will  lighten 
the  carnage  more  than  two  of  you,  and 
start  the  horses  if  the  driver  is  willing. 
I  accordingly  descended,  and  when  the 
intruder,  so  considered,  had  gone  away 
I  said  to  the  driver,  "  May  I  start  your 
horses  and  not  strike  them  a  blow  ? " 

"  Yes,  if  you  can,"  was  the  answer. 

"  Then  you  shall  hold  the  reins,  and 
when  I  say  '  Come,'  run  them  into  the 
road,  but  be  sure  to  stop  them,  and  let 
me  get  in." 

Now  that  the  driver  was  willing  I 
had  to  make  the  horses  willing  too.  I 
patted  their  necks,  stroked  their  faces 
and  breathed  in  their  nostrils.  Though 
utter  strangers,  I  found  them  the  most 
docile  and  willing  of  beasts.  Soon 
each  would  put  his  nose  on  my  cheek, 
our  three  faces  coming  in  direct  con- 
tact. I  then  stepped  a  little  forward, 
directly  in  front,  looked  them  in  the 
face,  beckoned  with  both  hands  and 
said  distinctly,  "  Come,"  when  they 


302  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

started  so  quick  I  was  obliged  to  spring 
out  of  the  way. 

"  It  took  you  a  great  while,"  said 
one  of  the  ladies. 

"  Yes,  for  I  first  had  to  mesmerise 
the  driver,  and  make  him  willing." 

One  of  the  ladies  then  asked  if  I 
should  return  that  evening. 

"  I  have  not  fully  determined,"  said  I. 

"  Then  I  will  not  go  back,  if  you 
don't  go,  although  I  very  much  wish 
to." 

"If  it  would  be  an  accommodation 
to  you  to  go  home,  I  will  return  in  the 
9  o'clock  omnibus  on  these  conditions: 
That  you  will  allow  me  the  pleasure  of 
sitting  next  to  you."  This  was  agreed 
upon,  to  the  merriment  of  the  com- 
pany. 

We  met  at  the  hour  appointed,  and 
I  never  saw  her  before  or  since,  but  one 
thing  I  am  sure  of,  she  felt  safer,  as 
any  reasonable  woman  would,  in  com- 
pany with  a  man  who  coaxed  horses, 
rather  than  beat  them. 

When  the  driver  came  for  his  fare, 
I  offered  mine,  but  he  said,  "  Uncle 
Asa,  I  shan't  take  any  pay  of  you  to- 
night." 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  303 

"  You  appear  to  know  me,"  said  I, 
"  but  I  don't  know  you." 

"  Oh,  I  have  known  you  ever  since  I 
was  a  little  boy." 

"  Then  tell  me  who  you  are,  and  per- 
haps I  shall  know  your  father." 

When  he  told  his  name,  "  Oh,"  said 
I,  "I  knew  your  father,  and  grand- 
father and  great-grandfather,  Captain 
John  Harnden,  the  very  man  who  used 
to  come  when  I  had  a  broken  leg  and 
tell  me  pleasing  stories." 

To  the  young  I  would  say,  when 
you  come  in  contact  with  old  people,  if 
possible  make  yourself  known  to  them, 
especially  if  you  have  reason  to  think 
they  have  been  acquainted  with  your 
parents.  It  is  a  satisfaction  to  see  the 
children  of  their  former  associates,  and 
if  you  would  introduce  yourselves,  it 
would  afford  them  much  pleasure. 
You  may  sometimes  wonder  old  people 
do  not  recognize  you,  but  when  you  be- 
come old  yourselves,  you  can  better 
realize  the  effect  of  dim  vision  and 
crowded  intellect  on  the  mind  of  the 
aged. 


304  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 


LICE  ON  CATTLE. 

It  is  vain  to  expect  your  stock  to 
thrive  while  infected  with  lice.  The 
most  simple  and  effective  remedy  for 
them  is  hog's  lard.  This  should  be 
rubbed  or  put  around  the  horns,  around 
the  ears,  between  the  eyes  and  nose, 
the  whole  length  of  the  back,  around 
the  butt  of  the  tail  and  on  the  dew-lap, 
and  a  little  in  the  hollow  back  of  the 
shoulders,  and  then  let  the  creature 
stand  in  the  sun.  This  should  be  done 
once  a  week,  or  oftener  if  you  please,  as 
long  as  a  louse  can  be  found.  My  idea 
is  that  they  eat  so  much  they  split  open, 
for  skins  can  be  found  two  hours  after 
the  application.  If  you  have  a  pen  of 
calves  and  will  let  a  cosset  sheep  be 
put  with  them  and  allowed  to  sleep  in 
the  pen,  they  will  have  no  lice.  The 
lice  will  leave  for  warmer  lodgings  on 
the  sheep  and  never  quit  till  they  have 
eaten  so  much  of  her  grease  as  to  kill 
them.  Next  to  lard  I  would  recom- 
mend tobacco  wash,  which  is  more 
trouble  and  likely  to  expose  the  ani- 
mal to  take  cold.  Never  use  unguin- 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  305 

turn  on  any  account.  So  much  for 
cure.  One  tablespoonful  sulphur  in  a 
quart  of  meal,  given  once  in  two  weeks, 
is  a  sure  preventative  to  lice.  It  is 
good  for  cattle,  horses  or  hogs. 

DAIRY  WORK. 

Where  a  number  of  cows  are  kept, 
it  is  necessary  to  set  each  cow's  milk 
by  itself,  skim  and  churn  it  by  itself  to 
ascertain  what  kind  of  butter  she  makes 
and  how  long  it  is  in  coming.  This  is 
important  to  determine  what  heifers  to 
keep  for  milch  cows. 

I  once  had  fifteen  heifers  who  "  came 
in"  so  near  together  that  their  calves 
were  all  taken  from  them  in  one  day. 
When  they  had  fairly  outgrown  their 
weaning,  each  one's  milk  was  set  sep- 
arate and  the  cream  churned  separate. 
The  result  was,  one  heifer's  cream  came 
to  butter  in  about  three  minutes,  eleven 
of  them  in  ten  minutes,  and  three  of 
them  from  one  and  a  half  to  two  hours. 
The  first  twelve  had  butter  of  a  nice 
quality ;  the  last  three  gave  more  milk 
by  measure  than  any  of  them,  but  the 


306  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

butter  was  soft  and  white.  Those  I 
sold  to  a  milk-man.  Had  I  kept  them 
with  the  rest  and  their  cream  been 
churned  together,  it  is  my  opinion  the 
other  heifer's  cream  would  have  come 
to  butter,  and  theirs  not  at  all,  but  pass 
off  in  the  buttermilk. 

One  of  my  neighbors,  famed  for 
good  butter  and  high  prices,  found  one 
spring  that  his  customers  shunned  him. 
On  inquiring  the  cause  he  was  told  his 
butter  would  not  keep  well,  after  three 
days  it  could  not  be  eaten.  He  then 
tried  his  cows  separately,  and  found 
one  cow  produced  butter  that  smelt 
badly  when  first  made  and  when  forty- 
eight  hours  old  could  not  be  endured 
on  the  table.  He  had  expected  that 
same  cow  to  be  his  best  dairy  cow  that 
season. 

One  day's  cream  is  a  sufficient  test, 
and  can  be  easily  stirred  to  butter  in  a 
bowl. 

MILKING  Cows. — Cows  should  be 
milked  regularly ;  that  is  at  the  same 
time  in  the  day,  every  day.  This  should 
be  done  as  fast  as  possible  till  the  last 
stream  is  pressed  from  the  udder. 

To  have  all  kinds  of  stock  tame,  I 


WILMINGTON  FABMEK.  307 

deem  important ;  more  especially  milch 
cows.  For  this  purpose  children  should 
be  encouraged  to  feed  and  play  with, 
and  lead  them  when  calves. 

BUTTER-MAKING. — All  butter  utensils 
should  be  kept  perfectly  sweet  and  dry, 
that  is,  pails,  pans,  and  churns  should 
be  dried  before  being  packed  away. 
The  milk  strainer  whether  of  cloth  or 
wire  should  be  dried  as  soon  as  possible. 
It  should  be  strained  in  pans  about  two 
inches  thick  as  soon  as  milked  and  if- 
rich  froth  remain  in  the  pail  a  half  cup 
of  cold  water  will  settle  it,  which  you 
may  strain  into  the  milk.  Twenty- 
four  hours  in  the  hottest  weather  is 
long  enough  to  let  cream  remain  on 
the  milk.  If  it  does  not  keep  sweet 
one  day,  unless  there  is  thunder,  the 
dishes  are  not  sweet.  Cream  should 
always  be  stirred  daily,  but  in  hot 
weather  twice  a  day,  with  a  stick  kept 
in  the  creampot,  and  taken  off  with  as 
little  milk  as  possible.  Forty-eight 
hours  is  long  enough  in  any  weather 
for  cream  to  stand  on  the  milk,  and 
thirty-six  generally.  Wind  should  not 
blow  hard  on  milk  while  setting  cream, 
but  a  draught  of  air  over  it  greatly  facili- 


308  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

tates  the  rising  and  helps  the  quality. 
I  should  prefer  a  milk-room  with  two 
windows,  one  north,  and  one  west ; 
this  last  in  hot,  sunny  days  I  would 
shade  with  an  awning  to  keep  out  the 
sun  and  not  obstruct  the  air.  Keep 
cream  covered  close,  I  deem  stone  pots 
preferable,  and  churned  twice  a  week 
in  summer.  When  taken  from  the 
churn,  no  water  should  be  added  but 
the  buttermilk  worked  out,  and  salted 
to  liking.  After  standing  till  it  is  cool 
or  till  the  next  morning,  it  must  be 
again  wrought  and  a  half  ounce  of  fine 
white  sugar  added  to  every  pound ;  then 
weigh  and  shape  for  market.  The  su- 
gar is  a  preservative  and  adds  to  the 
flavor. 

GRAZING. — I  wish  to  make  a  few 
statements  showing  the  benefits  of  giv- 
ing cows  good  grazing  during  summer. 
As  I  have  before  said,  nothing  is  so 
good  for  making  butter  as  good  grass. 
A  few  words  to  illustrate  the  difference 
between  good  and  short  pasturage.  Rid- 
ing one  day  with  a  dairy  farmer,  I  said 
to  him,  "  A  good  cow  kept  in  a  first 
rate  pasture  will  be  worth  $10  more 
than  the  same  cow  kept  in  a  meagre 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  309 


pasture,  that  is,  one  had  better  pay 
for  a  good  pasture  than  accept  a  poor 
one  as  a  gift." 

"  Sheldon,  I  know  there  is  great  dif- 
ference, but  I  think  you  are  rather 
wild,"  said  he. 

By  this  time  we  were  passing  an  ex- 
cellent pasture  on  our  right,  in  which 
two  cows  were  feeding,  and  a  very  poor 
one  on  the  left  where  three  cows  were 
trying  to  feed. 

"Will  not  those  cows  make  fifty 
pounds  of  butter  each  in  a  season  more 
than  either  of  the  three  others  1 "  said  I. 

"  I  think  they  will,"  said  he. 

"  Will  not  each  cow  carry  into  the 
barn-yard  $3  worth  more  than  the 
others,  and  wont  they  on  account  of 
their  flesh  be  worth  $5  more  in  the 
fall?" 

"Yes,  I  think  they  will,"  said  he, 
"  you  have  made  out  your  case  and 
more  too." 

Have  we  not  reason  to  suppose  the 
owner  of  the  two  cows  made  a  profit 
by  farming,  while  the  owner  of  the 
three  could  make  no  profit  ? 


310  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 


SHEEP. 

A  few  sheep  may  be  profitable  to 
farmers  in  this  section  of  country  if 
they  have  a  snug  pasture,  where  they 
will  not  trouble  their  neighbors.  But 
back  in  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont, 
where  butter  and  milk  are  less  valuable 
than  here,  they  must  be  quite  profit- 
able. In  rearing  lambs  it  should  be 
kept  in  mind  that  if  a  lamb  does  not 
get  hold  of  his  mother's  teat  and  help 
himself  to  what  nature  has  prepared 
for  him,  quickly  after  he  is  dropped, 
his  life  will  be  short. 

When  sheep  or  lambs  are  poisoned 
with  kill-lamb,  so  common  in  New  Eng- 
land pastures,  a  drop  or  two  of  warm 
chamber-lye  is  certain  cure.  If  the  old 
dam  be  so  unnatural,  as  sometimes  is 
the  case,  as  to  disown  her  offspring,  tie 
her  and  take  the  lamb  away  and  carry 
it  at  stated  times  to  suck,  holding  her 
the  while.  Should  she  still  refuse,  cuff 
her  ears  and  she  will  soon  choose  to  let 
him  suck  and  have  you  keep  away. 

For  ticks  in  sheep,  I  prefer  Jaques' 
sheep-wash,  or  extract  of  tobacco,  to 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  311 

anything  else.  I  have  tried  it  on  my 
sheep  two  different  seasons  and  found 
that  it  worked  admirably,  killing  all  the 
vermin,  and  the  sheep  thrived  after- 
wards finely. 


HOGS. 

Hogs  with  proper  attention,  where 
manure  is  valuable,  may  be  made  the 
most  profitable  of  any  stock  a  man  can 
keep  on  his  farm  ;  but  if  neglected  they 
will  run  him  in  debt  as  fast.  The  right 
kind  of  hogs  properly  tended,  will  pro- 
duce ten  pounds  pork  from  one  bushel 
of  corn  meal,  while  they  may  be  so 
neglected  and  scantily  kept  that  they 
consume  a  bushel  of  meal  and  not  gain 
a  pound.  No  man  can  ever  get  rich 
by  buying  a  creature  and  starving  it. 
Hogs  are  a  kind  of  stock  that  will  not 
do  for  a  farmer  to  say  he  will  keep  a 
certain  number,  let  circumstances  be  as 
they  will. 

Whenever  it  is  evident  from  frost  or 
other  reasons  that  corn  will  be  high, 
say  $2  per  barrel,  he  had  better  get 
rid  of  his  hogs,  for  he  never  can  sell 


312  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

pork  high,  enough  to  pay  the  feeding  at 
that  price.  To  make  them  profitable 
be  sure  and  keep  the  best  breed,  and 
in  a  warm  pen,  with  windows  to  the 
south,  and  access  to  the  horse  manure 
for  bed,  then  they  will  not  need  bedd- 
ing every  stormy  night. 

At  the  time  little  pigs  come,  I  prac*- 
tice  throwing  the  sow  a  bit  of  salt 
pork ;  if  she  eats  it  readily  give  her 
another,  and  so  on  till  she  appears  sat- 
isfied. 

To  prevent  pigs  getting  squeezed  to 
death  behind  the  sow,  nail  a  bit  of 
plank,  six  inches  wide,  eight  inches 
from  the  floor  of  the  pen  on  the  side 
the  sow  is  most  likely  to  lay.  This 
gives  room  for  the  pigs  to  run  behind 
her  back  and  not  get  squeezed. 


HENS. 

The  following  article  on  hens  is  by 
Mrs.  E.  Carter,  of  Amherst,  N.  H. 

"  When  living  in  Wilmington,  I 
thought  to  get  a  little  pocket  money 
from  five  hens.  I  set  them  on  thirteen 
eggs  apiece,  and  they  brought  out  on 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  313 

an  average  twelve  chickens  ;  many  died 
but  what  lived  were  tended  regularly, 
generally  fed  before  the  sun  was  up, 
oftentimes  as  soon  as  out  of  their  coops 
in  the  gray  of  the  morning.  This  fact 
of  an  early  breakfast,  is  of  great  im- 
portance to  the  chicks,  as  they  are  faint 
in  the  morning  and  liable  to  drabble 
out.  I  fed  them  with  moist  dough 
twice  a  day ;  in  the  forenoon  at  twelve 
o'clock,  and  in  the  afternoon  at  three. 
I  did  not  scald  the  meal,  but  have  since 
found  it  a  great  improvement.  I  kept 
them  on  Southern  corn-meal  at  fifty- 
eight  cents  per  bushel,  and  sold  them 
oif  before  July  ended,  leaving  a  net 
profit  of  $11.55  beside  the  pleasure  of 
tending  them.  I  would  strongly  rec- 
commend  a  coop  for  every  hen,  when 
her  brood  is  young.  They  should  face 
the  sun,  and  be  built  so  tall  as  not  to 
rumple  her  feathers.  This  is  impor- 
tant. A  hen  cannot  take  comfort  if 
anything  obstructs  her  plumage ;  and 
for  mercy's  sake,  do  not  keep  them  con- 
fined day  after  day,  unless  in  stormy 
weather.  They  love  liberty,  and  de- 
light to  bask  and  roll  in  the  sun.  Some 
convenient  place  should  always  be  pro- 


314  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

vidcd  for  them,  with  ashes  to  mix  with 
the  dirt ;  it  is  better  for  lice  than  mere- 
ly dry  dirt.  If  there  is  nothing  of  that 
kind,  little  ones  are  apt  to  die  of  lice. 
If  the  hen  and  brood  are  let  out  the 
second  afternoon  of  their  confinement, 
they  will  not  be  apt  to  stray  far,  and 
return,  or  be  driven  to  the  coop  at  night, 
and  gladly  make  that  their  home.  Some 
boiled  potatoes  mixed  with  chickens' 
dough,  I  have  found  many  times  more 
profitable  than  all  meal. 

I  have  many  times  parted  the  feath- 
ers and  cut  a  slit  in  the  crop  of  a  sickly 
chicken  and  taken  out  bad  substances, 
once  a  hard,  black  bag,  sewed  it  up 
again  and  the  chicken  would  do  well, 
and  when  picked  no  trace  of  stitches 
could  be  discovered. 

To  fatten  hens  or  chickens,  they 
should  be  shut  in  a  dry  pen  with  a 
good  perch,  and  fed  with  new-made 
corn-meal  dough,  rather  moist,  twice 
per  day.  After  eating  the  dough,  corn 
should  be  added,  and  other  grain  for 
change.  To  add  potatoes  to  the  dough 
for  change  is  beneficial,  as  they  tire  of 
one  kind.  Some  sweeten  with  molas- 
ses, but  I  never  found  any  profit  by  it, 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  315 

Nine  days  is  quite  long  enough  to  keep 
them  shut  up  before  killing.  No  water 
should  be  used  as  drink.  Where  milk 
is  not  more  than  three  cents  per  quart, 
you  will  find  your  account  in  wetting 
the  dough  with  new  milk  every  alter- 
nate day.  The  more  variations  of 
wholesome  food  for  fattening  chickens 
the  better. 

In  preparing  for  market,  to  save 
tearing  the  skin,  begin  to  pick  as  soon 
as  killed,  before  motion  wholly  ceases. 

It  is  well  known  that  running  fowls 
lay  more  eggs  in  summer  than  in  win- 
ter. This  I  consider  owing  partly  to 
a  lack  of  meat  or  meaty  substances, 
which  in  summer  they  can  help  thern- 
selves  to,  in  shape  of  grasshoppers, 
crickets,  bugs,  &c.  Now,  if  this  lack 
be  supplied  by  meat  orts,  from  the  ta- 
ble or  otherwise,  and  they  have  a  warm 
house  to  perch  in,  and  burnt  bone  or 
lime  constantly  by  them,  with  fair  wa- 
ter for  drink,  with  some  kind  of  grain, 
either  corn,  oats,  barley,  rye,  wheat,  or 
buckwheat,  we  may  expect,  when  they 
have  rested  through  the  month  of  De- 
cember, they  will  give  us  very  near  as 
many  eggs  in  winter  as  in  summer.  In 


316  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

severe  cold  weather,  carry  out  hot  wa- 
ter for  them,  they  will  pay  back  for  the 
delicacy  in  eggs.  A  box  of  ashes  to 
roll  in  should  not  be  omitted. 

I  have  found  it  difficult  to  keep  lice 
out  of  a  hen-house  that  had  been  long 
used  for  that  purpose ;  but  found  I 
could  save  the  chickens  by  moving  the 
hen  and  eggs  as  soon  as  she  wants  to 
set,  to  some  other  good  place  and  make 
a  nice  nest  of  straw  or  meadow  hay, 
either  of  which  are  preferable  to  Eng- 
lish hay.  Lice  will  accumulate  if  she 
sits  in  the  house,  and  annoy  her  so  that 
she  often  leaves  her  eggs ;  should  she 
hatch  them  they  would  be  likely  to  die 
of  lice.  For  this  reason  coops  are  re- 
commended as  soon  as  they  hatch.  We 
should  be  as  careful  to  keep  our  chick- 
ens out  of  the  hen-pen  as  to  keep  our 
children  out  of  bad  company.  A  shal- 
low, wooden  trough  is  good  for  the 
little  ones  to  drink  out  of  in  summer. 

From  my  limited  experience  in  dif- 
ferent breeds,  I  have  found  the  Black 
Spanish  the  best  layers,  and  Yellow 
Pennsylvanias'  the  best  for  market  and 
table  purposes. 

Some  may  object  to  moving  a  hen 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  317 

lest  being  disturbed  she  refuse  to  set. 
But  if  it  be  done  on  the  first  evening, 
taking  her  up  carefully  to  avoid  rump- 
ling her  feathers,  and  holding  her  gen- 
tly on  her  eggs  till  she  recognizes  them, 
there  will  be  no  difficulty  in  her  being 
satisfied  with  her  new  home. 

Those  who  keep  their  hens  shut  up 
on  account  of  the  depredations  they 
commit  on  the  garden,  or  other  places, 
would  do  well  to  let  them  out  every 
afternoon  at  five  o'clock,  as  they  will 
not  then  be  inclined  to  scratch  on  ac- 
count of  their  desire  to  catch  insects. 
To  keep  them  shut  up  in  the  forenoon 
will  secure  their  eggs,  as  they  usually 
lay  before  noon. 

Since  penning  the  above  I  have  re- 
ceived from  Henry  Sheldon,  the  fol- 
lowing safe  and  tested  remedy  for  lice  : 
One  table-spoonful  of  sulphur  to  one 
dozen  fowls,  mixed  with  their  dough. 
Repeat  the  dose  on  three  alternate  days. 
Practice  this  every  two  months  and 
your  fowls  will  be  healthy,  and  no  lice 
will  trouble  them." 


31 8  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 


CURE  FOR  HORN  AIL,  &c. 

Make  a  bag  long  enough  to  reach 
from  one  horn  to  the  other,  and  wide 
enough  to  reach  round  the  horn,  with 
a  string  at  every  corner.  Fill  it  with 
soft  soap  and  salt  mixed,  and  tie  it 
around  the  horns.  When  the  bag  is 
in  its  proper  place  it  will  lay  partly  for- 
ward and  partly  back  of  the  top  of  the 
head.  You  need  not  stop  to  ascertain 
whether  the  disease  be  horn-ail  or  not; 
if  your  cattle  are  dumpish  or  unhealthy 
put  it  on  and  it  will  generally  bring 
them  to  appetite,  and  surely  will  do  no 
harm.  I  have  frequently  tried  it,  and 
always  wTith  good  effect.  I  once  owned 
an  ox  that  I  kept  several  years,  and 
some  years  had  to  apply  it  two  or  three 
times.  I  always  let  it  remain  until  I 
thought  the  cure  was  effected.  I  have 
noticed  the  first  symptoms  of  this  dis- 
ease to  be  an  inclination  to  hold  the 
head  down  and  a  desire  to  put  the  nose 
against  something.  I  cannot  say  which 
has  the  most  salutary  effect,  the  medi- 
cine penetrating  through  the  skin,  or 
melting  and  running  down  to  be  licked 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  319 

off  the  nose  and  thus  taken  into  the 
stomach.  It  matters  not  which  makes 
the  cure,  but  in  my  opinion  both  act 
together.  I  consider  it  a  very  good 
preventative  if  applied  to  a  healthy 
creature. 

If  you  wish  your  cows  to  do  well  at 
the  time  of  coming  in,  give  them  a 
mess  of  oats  or  rye  meal  every  day, 
awhile  beforehand. 

Creatures  sometimes  swell  up.  I 
have  had  oxen  that  were  troubled  in 
this  way.  One  ox  that  was  particular- 
ly addicted  to  it,  was  so  swollen  at  one 
time,  that  a  straight  stick  laying  on  him 
would  not  touch  his  back.  My  remedy 
is  —  Half  a  teacup  full  of  ground  mus- 
tard, half  a  pint  of  molasses,  half  a 
pint  hog's  lard  and  a  little  water,  about 
milk-warm, — will  stir  red  together, — 
put  in  a  glass  bottle  and  turn  down  the 
throat.  Everything  given  to  cattle  as 
a  medicine  should  bo  milk-warm.  Ca- 
ses of  obstructions  sometimes  occur 
when  injections  become  necessary  to 
save  life.  I  have  had  one  of  this  kind 
used  with  good  success :  Take  half  a 
pint  of  lard,  two  table-spoonfuls  ground 
mustard,  and  as  much  gunpowder,  warm 


320  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

and  mix  well,  and  add  two  quarts  warm 
water. 

If  the  udder  of  a  cow  be  swollen  or 
inflamed  at  time  of  coming  in,  put  a 
table-spoonful  of  saleratus  in  a  quart 
of  warm  water,  and  bathe  it  therewith. 
It  works  to  a  charm. 

For  scratches  in  horses,  bathe  in 
blubber  oil  every  alternate  day,  till  a 
cure  is  effected. 


PLOUGHS  AND  PLOUGHING. 

In  my  humble  opinion  there  has  been 
no  radical  improvement  in  ploughs  for 
the  last  thirty  years.  Far  be  it  from 
me  to  discourage  improvements,  but  al- 
though I  see  alterations  they  do  not  ap- 
pear to  be  beneficial.  Between  the 
year  1800  and  1830,  there  were  great 
improvements  in  ploughs.  .  The  best 
plough  that  I  ever  used  was  built  by 
Dea.  Benj.  Foster,  of  this  town,  in  the 
year  1816.  This  plough  was  a  perfect 
machine  in  every  respect.  If  it  laid 
on  the  wing  when  you  started  the  team, 
the  first  motion  would  cause  it  to  come 
up  square  on  its  bottom.  In  common 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  321 

grass  ground  it  would  turn  a  furrow 
sixteen  inches  wide  and  lay  it  over  so 
neatly  that  if  a  man  could  see  neither 
centre  nor  outside,  it  would  trouble 
him  to  tell  which  way  the  furrows  were 
turned.  Where  there  were  neither 
roots  nor  stones,  it  would  run  the  whole 
length  of  the  furrow  without  holding. 
Put  it  into  an  old  corn  field,  and  walk 
beside  your  team,  and  it  would  run 
from  side  to  side,  splitting  the  hills 
without  your  touching  it,  as  well  as  any 
plough  could  possibly  do  it  by  being 
guided.  Out  of  $300  worth  of  ploughs 
that  I  have  owned  since,  this  was  the 
only  one  that  I  ever  found  that  would 
do  it.  I  do  not  know  the  weight  of 
this  plough,  but  wish  I  did.  Of  one 
thing  I  am  certain,  it  was  not  more 
than  half  as  heavy  as  the  ploughs  we 
now  use,  that  will  turn  a  furrow  of  the 
same  width. 

The  next  best  plough  I  ever  owned 
was  made  by  Warren,  of  North  Dan- 
vers.  This  had  a  rolling  cutter  and 
run  easy  for  the  team,  being  a  light 
plough  in  proportion  to  the  furrow  it 
cut.  The  great  error  plough  makers 
have  fallen  into  within  the  last  thirty 


322  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  ! 

years,  is  by  increasing  the  weight  so 
much  it  over  balances  every  other  im- 
provement. It  is  worth  one  mill  for  a 
team  to  carry  one  pound  a  day.  Now 
if  a  plough  be  fifty  pounds  heavier 
than  need  be,  there  is  five  cents  loss 
every  day  in  carrying  that  weight,  be- 
sides the  ploughman's  extra  labor  in 
throwing  it  round  at  every  corner,  and 
have  thought  ever  since  my  leg  was 
broken,  that  was  worth  ten  cents  extra. 
If  plough  builders  would  give  us  any 
improvement  in  ploughs,  I  beg  them 
to  make  them  lighter. 

Cutters  to  all  ploughs  should  be  so 
made  as  to  cut  a  little  under  on  the 
land  side.  By  that  means  the  furrows 
can  be  dropped  in  flat.  I  would  not 
have  a  man  plow  grass  land  and  lap 
the  furrows,  if  he  would  do  it  for  noth- 
ing. The  disadvantage  of  tilling  that 
year  would  more  than  over-balance 
the  cost  of  plowing. 

Depth  of  plowing  should  vary  ac- 
cording to  circumstances.  Land  should 
never  be  plowed  very  deep  the  first 
time.  Land  five  inches  below  the  sur- 
tace  on  virgin  soil  is  softer  and  lighter 
than  ever  afterwards.  I  learned  this 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  323 

when  a  boy,  by  observing  when  break- 
ing new  land  the  oxerfs  feet  who  trod 
in  the  furrow  would  settle  in  deeper 
than  in  an  old  field. 

If  you  have  but  little  manure  be  sure 
and  not  plow  too  deep,  from  five  to 
seven  inches;  but  if  manure  is  abun- 
dant you  may  plow  from  eight  to  nine 
inches  with  profit. 


SWALE  LAND. 

There  is  a  kind  of  swale  land  gener- 
ally covered  with  alders,  which  is  ex- 
cellent for  grass  if  rightly  managed. 
Frequently  on  examination,  white  sand 
may  be  found  within  two  inches  of 
the  surface.  If  so,  never  plough  it. 
Cut  the  alders  close  to  the  ground  and 
burn  them  in  the  month  of  August ; 
sow  on  grass  seed ;  spread  on  plenty  of 
compost  manure,  a  great  part  of  which 
may  be  dirt ;  use  a  brush-harrow  un- 
sparingly, and  next  July  you  may  ex- 
pect a  noble  crop  of  herd's  grass  and 
red-top,  taking  it  for  granted  you  sowed 
that  kind  of  seed.  In  haying  time 
there  will  most  probably  be  some  alder 


324  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

sprouts  that  the  scythe  will  readily  take 
off,  and  the  stoclf  the  next  winter  will 
not  object  to  them  at  all,  and  likely 
they  will  be  the  last  that  will  spring 
up.  This  land  will  ask  for  a  little 
grass-seed  about  every  five  years,  and 
top  dressing  at  the  same  time.  I  have 
no  doubt  one-half  the  manure  made 
from  this  grass  will,  by  composting, 
keep  the  land  highly  dressed,  giving 
you  the  privilege  of  selling  one-half 
the  crop.  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  in 
this  way  your  land  will  yield  a  good 
crop  more  years  in  succession  than  I 
have  lived.  This  is  the  most  profitable 
way  of  raising  English  grass  I  have 
ever  found. 


EECLAIMING  SWAMP  LAND. 

The  first  object  is  to  drain  it.  Dig 
a  central  ditch,  and  one  on  each  side. 
At  the  down-stream  end,  dig  a  ditch 
from  the  side  ones  into  the  central  one. 
After  draining,  the  main  surface  will 
settle,  the  old  harrock  grass  will  die, 
and  in  about  one  year  it  will  be  in  a 
fit  condition  to  clear  the  wood  and 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  325 

bushes  away,  which  should  be  done  by 
cutting  the  roots  as  tkey  become  prom- 
inent. It  is  not  profitable  to  do  this 
till  one  year  after  drainage.  Don't  be 
too  particular  about  getting  all  the  old 
settlers  out,  but  plant  with  potatoes 
without  manure ;  they  will  thrive  well 
among  the  roots  in  close  proximity  to 
a  stump,  which  time  will  loosen  with 
each  revolving  year.  Avoid  cross  dit- 
ches, they  are  troublesome  in  plowing. 
If  the  swamp  land  is  good  it  will  bear 
better  potatoes  two  years  without  than 
with  manure.  The  farmer  can  judge 
when  the  land  wants  manure,  by  the 
length  of  the  potatoe  vines.  If  they 
are  six  or  seven  feet  long,  there  is  no 
need  of  manure ;  if  only  four  feet,  put 
some  manure  in  the  hill. 

In  tilling  this  virgin  soil,  it  will  be 
discovered  that  the  surface  is  the  best. 
My  manner  of  planting  is  to  deposit 
the  seed  on  the  top  and  hoe  dirt  upon 
them.  As  I  continue  to  till,  I  go  deep- 
er in  order  to  bring  up  new  soil.  I 
sometimes  plant  several  years  before  I 
plough  a  furrow.  I  cannot  say  how 
long  it  will  hold  out,  but  I  have  a 


326  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

piece  which  I  planted  eight  years  that 
yields  a  satisfactory  crop. 

This  kind  of  land  will  bear  good 
herd's  grass,  &c.,  four  years,  after  that 
wild  grasses  come  in  plentifully.  Po- 
tatoes grow  here  of  good  quality,  but 
grass,  although  very  handsome,  has  not 
the  sweetness  of  upland  hay.  It  ought 
then  to  be  ploughed,  and  grass  seed 
sown  again,  or  potatoes  planted,  and  at 
every  ploughing  I  would  attempt  to 
strike  a  little  deeper  than  before. 

Mud  from  ditches,  such  as  mention- 
ed above,  is  superb  to  spread  on  the 
land  among  young  apple  trees  in  the 
fall,  and  plow  in,  in  the  spring. 


RAISING  CORN,  POTATOES  AND 
GRASS. 

These  three  articles  are  classed  to- 
gether because  the  good  farmer's  ob- 
ject is,  while  he  raises  the  two  first  to 
produce  the  third.  Let  us  suppose  an 
acre  of  ground,  well  adapted  to  all 
these,  but  has  been  in  grass  so  long 
that  it  produces  only  from  ten  to  fifteen 
hundred  weight  to  the  acre.  I  would 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  327 

plough  the  land  in  August,  if  the  soil 
be  suitable,  eight  or  nine  inches  deep. 
If  you  intend  to  lay  it  down  after  the  first 
crop  of  corn  is  taken  off,  put  on  all  the 
manure  it  will  need  for  seven  years, 
and  spread  on  the  ground.  Then  run 
a  light  plow  lengthwise  of  the  furrows, 
as  deep  as  you  can  and  not  disturb  the 
sod.  This  work  should  be  finished  in 
September,  and  the  land  rest  through 
the  winter.  In  the  spring  you  may 
harrow,  or  cross-plough  as  you  choose  ; 
then  mark  the  land  in  rows  both  ways 
three  and  a  half  feet  apart  for  corn- 
planting — four  kernels  to  the  hill  is 
suificient.  Corn  should  always  be  hoed 
three  times  and  more  rather  than  let  it 
get  weedy.  The  weeds  should  be  kept 
down  at  any  rate,  and  if  this  is  done 
the  plough  or  cultivator  will  do  most  of 
the  work  ;  the  hoeing  labor  is  but  light. 
I  can  testify  from  experience  that  no 
man  can  make  a  profit  by  raising  weeds. 
Be  sure  and  plant  early  corn,  and  if 
you  are  going  to  sow  down,  cut  up  the 
corn,  stalks  and  all,  as  soon  as  it  is 
fairly  out  of  the  milk.  Shock  it  in  the 
field,  taking  up  as  little  ground  as  you 
can.  Then  plow,  but  without  disturb- 


328  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

ing  the  old  sods  ;  they  have  a  duty  to 
do  to  the  coming  grass  crop,  where 
they  are.  When  ready  sow  one  peck 
of  herd's  grass  and  one  bushel  red-top 
to  the  acre.  You  will  be  under  the 
necessity  of  leaving  narrow  strips  where 
the  shocks  are,  but  these  you  must  pre- 
pare and  sow  as  soon  as  you  can. 

Now  if  you  have  put  fifteen  cords  of 
manure  to  the  acre  and  followed  these 
directions,  you  may  expect  from  seventy 
to  one  hundred  bushels  of  corn  to  the 
acre,  and  a  noble  lot  of  corn-fodder ; 
and  an  average  of  two  tons  of  hay  to 
the  acre  for  the  first  four  years  ;  one 
and  a  half  tons  for  the  next  two  years, 
and  if  not  convenient  to  plough  again 
then,  you  need  not  be  afraid  of  its  being 
poorer  than  when  first  ploughed  for 
three  years  more. 

ANOTHER  WAY  OF  RAISING  CORN  AND 
POTATOES. — Let  the  cornhills  remain 
till  spring.  Drop  potatoes  on  to  the 
ground  directly  between  the  hills,  then 
throw  manure  on  to  them  ;  take  a  pair 
of  oxen  or  a  horse  and  split  the  hills, 
two  furrows  in  a  row,  throwing  the  dirt 
on  to  the  potatoes.  A  man  should 
walk  over  the  ground  and  re-cover  if 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  329 

necessary,  or  hoe  off  if  a  surplus  re- 
mains.    A  few  days  before  they  show 
themselves  above  ground,  drag  a  brush 
harrow  crosswise  over  the  ground;  this 
will  disturb  the  weeds  and  give  the  pota- 
toes a  chance  to  get  ahead   of  these 
dwellers  on  the  sod.     When  ready  to 
hoe,  plough  crosswise  the  furrows  and 
then  follow  with  the  hoe.     Twice  tend- 
ing is  all  that  is  generally  needed,  for 
it  is  always  injurious  to  work   among 
them  after  the  vines  spread.     In  this 
way  you  will  be  likely  to  get  from  two 
to  three  hundred  bushels  to  the  acre. 
This  mode  I  learned  from  a  man  in 
Connecticut,  when  I  was  teaming  hops 
to  New  York.     It  may  be  thought  by 
some  a  slovenly  way,  but  my  word  for 
it,  it  is  the  cheapest,  easiest  and  most 
profitable  way  that  I  ever  knew  potatoes 
raised  on  upland.     After  the  crop  is 
taken  off  the  land  will  be  ready  to  sow 
with  grass. 

A  DAY'S  WORK. — When  I  arose  in 
the  morning  the  manure  was  in  the 
barn-yard,  the  potatoes  lay  in  the  bam 
uncut,  and  the  ground  lay  in  Indian 
hills  just  as  the  corn  was  taken  from  it 
the  fall  before.  I  commenced  opera- 


330  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

tions  with.  Daniel  Eames,  who  loaded 
and  teamed  out  all  the  manure,  laying 
it  in  heaps ;  while  I  with  three  small 
children,  (the  youngest  not  five  years 
old),  dropped  the  potatoes,  laid  on  the 
manure,  and  covered  by  splitting  the 
hills.  From  that  day's  work  I  realized 
over  five  hundred  bushels  of  potatoes. 
I  have  ever  been  in  favor  of  this  mode 
of  raising  potatoes,  no  matter  how  hard 
the  ground  is  under  them. 

Two  farmers,  well  known  to  me,  and 
to  each  other,  planted  each  a  patch  of 
corn  on  land  much  infested  by  witch- 
grass.  One  plowed  his  ground  just 
before  planting,  then  gathered  up  what 
grass  was  handy  into  bunches  and 
burned  it.  As  soon  as  the  corn  was 
out  of  the  ground  and  would  possibly 
admit  of  hoeing  it  was  ploughed  and 
hoed.  And  this  process  was  continued 
every  week  for  seven  successive  weeks. 
I  have  heard  the  owner  say  that  when 
hoeing  it  passers-by  would  say,  "  what 
are  you  hoeing  that  corn  for,  it  don't 
need  it?"  His  answer,  was,  "  I  don't 
mean  it  shall  this  summer."  In  con- 
sequence of  stirring  the  ground  so 
often  and  keeping  the  grass  in  subjec- 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  331 

tioii  the  crop  came  forward  and  matured 
early,  and  was  a  most  beautiful  crop 
of  sound  corn. 

The  other  man  cleared  off  the  witch 
grass  after  ploughing  as  did  the  former, 
and  treated  it  in  other  respects  equal 
till  the  corn  was  planted.  The  first 
hoeing  was  put  off  till  the  grass  cov- 
ered all  the  surface  as  high  as  the  corn, 
and  hoed  but  twice  in  the  season.  He 
observed  to  me  that  he  thought  it  cost 
him  as  much  labor  to  hoe  his  twice  as 
it  did  his  neighbor  to  hoe  his  seven 
times,  but  not  so  much  to  plough  it.  In 
September  it  was  thought  that  this  field 
was  about  two  weeks  behind  the  other, 
and  an  early  frost  coming,  there  was 
not  much  sound  corn;  mostly  hog-corn. 

If  you  want  a  good  crop  of  corn, 
stir  the  ground  often  till  the  weeds 
have  done  coming  up.  A  moment's 
reflection  will  show  the  difference  in 
tending  an  acre  where  the  weeds  are 
ten  inches  high,  and  where  they  are 
just  peeping  from  the  ground.  In 
some  sections  tending  only  twice  is 
practiced ;  and  those  who  practice  it 
generally  hoe  late,  after  the  weeds  are 
grown,  and  with  as  much  labor  as  would 


332  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

tend  the  same  ground  three  times  in 
the  proper  season,  and  secure  a  better 
crop.  In  this  case  the  old  maxim  is 
verified :  "  A  stitch  in  time  saves  nine." 


KAISING  ROOTS. 

Old  pasture  land  is  preferable  for 
nearly  all  kinds  of  roots.  It  should  be 
ploughed  the  previous  August,  and  will 
not  be  so  subject  to  weeds  or  worms 
as  old  fields.  Many  times  half  the 
labor  is  thus  saved. 

For  rutabagas  no  matter  how  sandy 
the  land  is.  The  best  crop  I  ever  raised 
was  on  blowing  sand.  I  furrowed  quite 
deep  and  applied  the  rawest  manure 
from  the  barn  cellar.  After  it  was 
placed  in  the  bottom  of  the  furrows,  a 
light  sprinkling  of  sand  was  hauled 
over  it ;  I  then  sowed  the  seed  with  a 
machine,  about  the  last  of  Jnne,  and 
realized  the  best  crop  of  bagas  I  ever 
raised  or  ever  saw.  I  had  eighty-two 
barrels  on  one-fourth  of  an  acre.  Sold 
them  to  one  man  for  sixty-seven  cents 
per  barrel.  Rutabagas  depend  almost 
entirely  on  the  manure.  As  to  soil, 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  333 

there  was  none  there,  but  the  heavens 
gave  water  that  kept  them  well  sprink- 
led and  the  manure  well  soaked. 

Parsnips  and  carrots  require  a  good 
loamy  soil,  with  old  rotten  manure  well 
sprinkled  and  the  manure  well  mixed 
with  the  soil.  I  think  they  grow  larger 
and  longer  on  ridges,  than  on  level  sur- 
face. 


FOREST  TREES. 

To  make  an  oak  growth  profitable, 
it  should  be  cut  once  in  twenty-five 
years.  If  the  owner  be  paying  inter- 
est money  and  wood  turns  well,  he  had 
better  not  let  it  stand  over  twenty-two 
years.  For  the  benefit  of  the  sprouts 
that  come  after,  it  should  be  cut  some 
time  when  the  days  are  shorter  than 
the  nights.  The  stumps  should  be  cut 
very  close  to  the  ground  for  several 
reasons : 

1st.  Because  you  get  more  wood. 

2d.  It  is  much  better  getting  over 
the  land  with  sled  or  wagon. 

Last,  but  not  least  by  any  means, 
sprouts  coming  from  a  stump  near  the 


334  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

ground,  thrive  much  better  than  those 
starting  from  a  stump  six  inches  above 
the  ground. 

If  you  cannot  bend  your  own  back, 
nor  persuade  your  chopper  to  do  so, 
you  had  better  cut  your  trees  in  early 
fall  so  that  the  stump  may  dry  by  the 
sun  and  die  on  the  top,  and  the  sprouts 
start  out  near  the  ground. 

I  once  sold  a  lot  of  standing  oak 
wood  at  auction.  Aged  men  that  were 
there  said  it  was  so  thrifty  that  it  was 
a  sin  to  cut  it.  It  amounted  to  $75  per 
acre.  The  whole  growth  was  taken 
away  before  the  first  day  of  April. 
No  cattle  were  allowed  on  it  for  four 
years.  I  would  rather  a  man  would 
drive  hungry  cattle  through  my  mow- 
land,  than  to  drive  the  same  number 
through  my  sprout-land. 

Twenty-two  years  from  the  time  of 
the  auction,  in  looking  over  the  lot,  I 
made  up  my  mind  that  it  would  fetch 
$50  per  acre,  if  put  up  at  auction.  It 
was  sold  at  $65  per  acre.  This  was 
three  and  a  half  years  ago,  and  there 
is  now  as  fine  a  growth  of  sprouts  on 
it  as  I  ever  saw  on  any  land. 

Beckoning  $75  for  twenty-five  and 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  335 

a  half  years,  at  six  per  cent.,  compound 
interest,  amounts  to  §340.45  ;  and  $65 
for  three  and  a  half  years,  at  same  rate, 
amounts  to  $79.25  ;  making  a  total  of 
$419.70  per  acre.  Drawing  conclu- 
sions from  a  lot  that  stood  near  by,  and 
larger  than  mine  at  the  time  of  the 
first  auction,  mine  would  at  this  time 
be  worth  not  more  than  $125  per  acre 
had  the  first  growth  stood.  I  would 
particularly  say  here,  that  sprouts  com- 
ing from  a  young  growth  are  worth 
more  in  twenty  years  than  those  com- 
ing from  an  old  growth  are  in  forty. 

A  lot  of  wood  is  now  standing  with- 
in my  knowledge,  that  I  recollect  a  man 
offered  $200  per  acre  for  the  top  in 
1812.  I  have  often  passed  that  lot 
and  never  noticed  a  tree  cut  from  it 
from  that  day  to  this.  Had  this  offer 
been  taken  and  the  money  put  at  com- 
pound interest  at  this  time,  it  would 
amount  to  the  amazing  sum  of  $3817 
per  acre,  and  another  growth  would 
have  sprung  up  fifty  years  old,  proba- 
bly worth  $83  per  acre,  swelling  the 
sum  to  $3,900  per  acre. 

Last  week  I  looked  over  the  same 
lot,  and  cannot  call  it  worth  more  than 


336  LIFE  OF   ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

$300  per  acre,  showing  a  dead  loss  of 
$3,600  per  acre.  I  have  been  told 
that  there  are  ten  acres  in  the  lot,  and 
if  so  there  is  $36,000  loss  to  the  owner 
by  not  turning  his  property. 

Young  men,  don't  be  alarmed  at  this 
statement ;  figures  do  not  lie. 

When  cutting  off  an  oak  lot,  if  you 
wish  to  clear  the  land  for  pasturing,  let 
the  brush  lay  on  the  ground  until  July, 
then  burn  it  as  it  lays.  If  any  sprouts 
or  bushes  remain  after  the  fire,  cut 
them  all;  rake  everything  into  piles 
and  burn  them.  Sow  one  bushel  of 
rye  to  the  acre,  one  peck  of  herd's 
grass  seed,  one  bushel  red  top,  and  a 
few  pounds  of  white  clover.  Harrow 
in  well,  and  be  sure  that  this  operation 
is  performed  by  the  first  of  August. 
Winter  rye  should  be  on  the  ground 
nearly  one  year,  I  know  from  experi- 
ence, and  the  grass  will  do  much  bet- 
ter. By  this  method  you  may  expect 
a  good  crop  of  grain,  and  the  straw  is 
no  small  item,  selling  for  about  three- 
fourths  the  price  of  English  hay,  which 
has  been  the  case  for  several  years. 

If  the  land  is  strong,  you  will  proba- 
bly choose  to  mow  two  or  three  years 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  337 

before  pasturing  it.  This  I  like,  be- 
cause the  scythe  will  cut  off  the  young 
sprouts  at  the  very  time  they  ought  to 
be  cut. 

Whenever  a  pine  lot  is  cut  off,  and 
another  growth  is  desired,  be  sure  to 
have  some  of  the  largest  trees  on  the 
highest  ground  to  seed  the  land.  A 
pine  growth  will  follow  a  pine  growth 
quicker  if  you  burn  the  boughs  and 
sow  rye  first,  without  grass. 

The  seed  of  the  pitch-pine  matures 
the  first  year ;  white-pine  seed  does  not 
till  the  second  —  this  I  am  certain  of, 
and  if  a  man  should  tell  me  that  it  did 
not  till  the  third,  I  would  not  dispute 
him.  An  abundance  of  them  start  but 
few  come  to  maturity. 

To  save  pine  seed  —  pick  the  cones 
from  the  tree  immediately  after  the  first 
hard  frost,  put  them  in  a  cask  and  set 
them  under  cover.  The  seed  is  about 
as  big  as  an  apple  seed,  each  having 
two  wings.  And  if  the  cones  remain 
on  the  tree,  as  fast  as  they  open  the 
wind  will  waft  them  away. 

A  growth  of  pitch-pine  should  be 
cut  off  between  twenty-five  and  thirty 
years.  White-pine  will  make  beauti- 


338  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

ful  timber  in  about  fifty  years.  The 
value  of  white-pine  timber  is  increased 
by  cutting  at  the  last  of  August  or  the 
first  of  September,  and  pealing  the 
bark  off.  Then  no  worm  will  ever 
touch  it.  If  I  were  building  a  house, 
I  would  not  take  the  gift  of  timber  cut 
in  June ;  it  will  powder  post,  depend 
upon  it. 

It  sometimes  occurs  that  land,  where 
you  would  like  to  have  pines  come  in, 
is  swarded  over  with  grass  so  as  to  pre- 
vent the  seed  from  germinating.  This 
can  be  remedied  by  going  over  it  with 
a  plough,  and  turning  it  a  little  to  the 
left  a  narrow  strip  may  be  cut  out  that 
will  answer  all  purposes. 

A  man  owning  several  acres  of  pine 
wood-land,  in  anticipation  of  cutting  off 
a  piece  at  a  time  would  do  well  to  run 
a  plough  wherever  he  expects  to  need 
a  partition  fence,  and  the  seed  will  come 
in  rapidly.  Should  nature  leave  gaps 
in  her  sowing,  the  defect  may  be  easily 
remedied  by  small  pines. 

A  reliable  friend  who  owned  several 
hundred  acres  pine  land  assured  me  he 
had  seven  miles  of  this  fence,  what  he 
called  "  living  pine."  He  said  it  cost 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  339 

him  but  little  pains  and  care,  and  he 
would  not  exchange  it  for  the  hest  rail 
fence,  or  pine  plain,  that  could  be 
found. 

KING  TREE. — At  one  time  I  bought 
a  quantity  of  standing  wood  on  Tay's 
East   Mountain, — the  top  of  which  is 
crowned  with  a  bason  of  water,  never 
dry? — of  Loammi  Baldwin,  Esq.,  with 
a  specified  time,  to  clear  it  off.     At  the 
time  of   cutting  and  clearing  he  was 
absent  in  one  of  the  Carolinas,  engi- 
neering  a   dry   dock.      Knowing   the 
Baldwins  to  be  men  of  curious  mind, 
very   fond   of  landmarks,   I   thought, 
while  lying  in  bed,  that  if  Mr.   Bald- 
win were  at  home  he  would  redeem  a 
prominent  white-pine  tree  which  stood 
on  the  brow  of  the  hill.     I  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  the  tree  should  not  be 
cut  till  he  returned.     The  first  time  I 
saw  him,  he  said,  "  Sheldon,  I  have 
been  past  the  mountain  lot  and  noticed 
one  tree  standing  there  ;    why  didn't 
you  take  that  away?     In  every  other 
particular  you  have  cleared  the  lot  ac- 
cording to  agreement."     I  told  him  the 
fact,  that  in  my  night-musings  I  had 
thought  he  might  value  that  tree  stand- 


340  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

ing,  more  than  its  real  worth  in  dollars 
and  cents. 

"How  much  is  that  tree  worth?" 
said  he. 

"  Five  dollars,"  I  replied. 

Whereupon  he  took  from  his  pocket 
$25  and  gave  it  to  me,  saying,  "  That 
is  to  pay  you  for  thinking  for  me  when 
I  don't  think  for  myself.  Last  winter, 
when  at  the  South,  I  awoke  one  night 
and  thought  of  that  King  tree.  I  wish- 
ed that  I  had  reserved  it,  and  would 
gladly  have  given  twice  its  value,  but 
never  expected  to  see  it  again.  Now  I 
would  not  take  a  hundred  dollars  for  it, 
not  that  it  will  be  worth  that  in  cash, 
but  because  it  will  afford  me  pleasure 
in  riding  over  the  neighboring  towns, 
to  see  that  landmark  and  recall  the 
pleasant  thoughts  associated  with  it." 

No  man  can  calculate  the  cords  of 
wood  that  will  grow  from  the  seed  of 
that  tree,  standing  as  it  does  on  an  ele- 
vation where  the  wind  fans  it  from  all 
directions. 

I  would  here  intimate  to  the  young, 
never  to  be  in  haste  to  fell  a  tree  that 
you  have  reason  to  believe  another  per- 
son would  take  comfort  in  having  stand. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  341 

When  once  down  it  cannot  be  replaced 
again.  I  have  known  lasting  ani- 
mosities created  between  families  and 
friends  by  the  simple  but  significant 
fact  of  cutting  a  favorite  tree.  Sure  I 
am  there  is  not  a  prominent  tree  in  the 
country  but  that  some  one  would  not 
like  to  see  it  fall. 

On  the  day  that  I  was  seventy  years 
of  age,  I  set  an  elm  tree,  and  the  day 
that  I  was  seventy-one  I  set  fifteen,  all 
of  which  are  alive  and  doing  well.  I 
make  it  a  rule,  not  to  be  broken,  to  set 
one  or  more  trees  on  every  birth-day, 
which  occurs  at  the  very  best  season  to 
transplant  trees. 

Walnut  trees  are  the  most  difficult 
to  transplant  and  make  live,  by  reason 
of  the  tap-root  running  down  like  a 
parsnip.  If  you  can  select  one  grow- 
ing on  a  ledge  where  there  is  no  length 
of  tap-root,  it  can  be  transplanted  with- 
out trouble,  but  be  sure  and  place  the 
same  side  to  the  South  that  stood  there 
in  its  natural  state. 

White-pine  trees  can  be  safely  trans- 
planted the  first  days  hi  June.  My 
friend,  Dea.  Levi  Parker,  assured  me 
that  he  set  one  hundred  some  years 


342  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  ! 

since,  and  only  three  died ;  ninety-seven 
are  thriving. 


APPLE   TREES. 

Nurseries  should  be  planted  on  high 
land,  free  from  stone.  In  the  fall  is 
the  best  time  for  planting  them.  I 
like  to  have  the  rows  so  far  apart  as  to 
have  a  row  of  roots  grow  between 
them.  The  land  should  not  be  very 
highly  manured ;  if  it  is,  the  trees 
will  not  acquire  as  many  roots  as  they 
need  after  transplanting.  If  they  grow 
on  land  free  from  stone  they  can  be 
taken  up  much  easier,  and  without 
bruising  the  roots  so  badly.  As  soon 
as  the  trees  are  big  enough,  bud  them 
in  the  month  of  August.  After  one 
year's  growth  from  the  bud,  the  old 
stock  should  be  cut  off  in  the  follow- 
ing spring.  Two  years  after  budding, 
either  fall  or  spring,  is  the  right  time 
to  transplant  the  tree.  Three  years 
will  answer,  but  I  had  rather  have  it 
one  year  than  four. 

Before  you  take  up  the  tree,  tie  a 
string  to  a  limb  that  projects  toward 


WILMINGTON  FARMER. 

the  South,  and  he  sure  you  set  it  in 
the  same  direction  in  transplanting. 
Many  a  tree  has  heen  nearly  ruined  by 
having  its  North  side  exposed  to  the 
hot  rays  of  the  sun  in  July.  I  had 
rather  have  five  trees  set  as  they  grew 
in  the  nursery,  than  six  turned  round. 
If  you  set  an  orchard,  be  sure  that 
your  land  is  suitable  for  it.  Hilly  land 
with  loamy  surface  and  clayish-gravel 
sub-soil  is  best.  Land  where  walnut 
grows  is  sure  to  favor  apple  trees,  and 
you  need  not  be  at  all  afraid  to  set  them 
where  barberries  grow. 

In  early  pruning,  be  sure  to  leave 
branches  where  you  want  them  ;  if  one 
is  nothing  but  a  bud  it  will  be  a  branch 
if  the  others  are  cut  away.  When  I 
first  commenced  rearing  an  orchard,  I 
was  advised  to  leave  three  branches 
only  to  form  the  tree.  Experience  has 
taught  me  that  five  is  much  better,  for 
with  only  three  branches  the  wind  has 
often  an  opportunity  to  strike  sidewise 
of  a  branch,  sometimes  to  the  injury  of 

the  tree. 

A  forked  tree  you  had  better  cut  ott 
and  graft  anew  or  throw  away,  as  it  is 
not  worth  raising.  The  wind  will  split 


344  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

it  and  cause  you  to  lose  your  labor. 
I  am  not  fond  of  setting  trees  so  far 
apart  as  many  farmers  are.  Thirty 
feet  is  quite  enough.  I  would  rather 
have  them  only  twenty-five  than  to  have 
them  thirty-five.  Wind  has  more  pow- 
er where  trees  are  set  a  long  distance 
apart,  than  where  nearer  together.  The 
limbs  of  trees  in  an  orchard  will  gen- 
erally meet  even  where  the  trees  are 
set  forty  feet  apart;  and  a  bushel  of 
apples  on  a  limb  twenty  feet  from  the 
trunk  of  the  tree  will  strain  it  more 
than  the  same  number  would  at  fifteen 
feet.  When  the  orchard  is  first  set,  it 
is  a  good  thing  to  mulch  them  with 
straw  or  poor  meadow  hay,  laying  on 
some  stones  to  keep  it  from  blowing 
away.  This  is  quite  indispensable  if 
the  season  be  dry. 

TRIMMING  TREES.  —  The  very  best 
time  to  trim  a  tree  is  the  day  the  blos- 
soms begin  to  open.  But  this  lasts 
only  a  few  days,  and  in  a  busy  season, 
and  if  put  off  until  it  is  a  little  too  late 
will  prove  an  injury,  therefore  I  cannot 
recommend  it.  The  best  time  that  I 
can  recommend  is  near  the  time  when 
the  sun  crosses  the  line,  either  in  March 


WILMINGTON  FARMER. 


345 


or  September.  Sometimes  the  Spring 
is  so  very  forward  there  is  danger  of 
trimming  in  the  last  days  of  March. 
In  proof  of  this  let  me  say,  that  I  have 
one  orchard  which  I  have  allowed  to 
be  trimmed  in  the  month  of  March 
only,  and  must  say  I  know  of  no  health- 
ier trees  in  the  County  of  Middlesex. 
In  cutting  off  the  limb,  you  should  be 
careful  not  to  cut  the  seam  that  joins 
the  limb  to  the  tree,  as  this  course  will 
make  a  larger  wound  and  will  require 
a  longer  time  to  heal. 

I  would  advise  every  young  farmer 
to  select  a  tree  and  cut  off  a  limb  every 
month  in  the  year,  and  thus  he  will 
find  by  experiment  how  the  sap  works 
and  which  time  is  best.  This  should 
be  noted  in  a  book  to  avoid  mistake. 

Young  trees  should  be  washed  with 
a  corn  broom,  with  strong  soap  suds 
and  ashes,  to  prevent  the  first  start  of 
moss,  as  soon  as  the  frost  is  out  of  the 
ground  in  the  Spring,  and  again  in 
October.  This  will  prevent  lice  and 
help  to  keep  out  borers.  They  should 
be  carefully  looked  over  before  the 
leaves  start,  to  take  off  every  caterpil- 
lar's egg. 


346  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

After  an  orchard  is  set,  I  like  to 
plant  corn.  Care  should  be  taken  to 
row  both  ways,  and  every  tree  take  the 
place  of  a  hill  that  they  may  not  ob- 
struct ploughing.  In  a  few  years  I 
like  to  plant  squashes  between  them. 
Should  you  choose  to  lay  down  to  grass, 
do  not  let  it  remain  so  more  than  three 
years  lest  the  trees  become  stunted. 

Black,  swamp  mud,  spread  on  an 
orchard  in  the  Fall  and  ploughed  in 
and  mixed  with  the  soil  in  the  spring, 
is  excellent  for  the  trees. 

In  gathering  apples,  place  the  thumb 
against  the  stem  so  as  to  break  it  at  the 
first  joint.  A  good  faithful  boy  is  bet- 
ter to  pick  apples  than  a  man.  The 
lighter  he  is  the  better,  if  he  under- 
stands his  business.  Shoes  or  boots 
with  nails  in  the  heels,  should  not  be 
used.  Apples  should  be  gathered  be- 
fore the  ground  freezes  at  night ;  pack- 
ed in  a  cask ;  set  in  a  cool  place,  and 
kept  from  air  as  much  as  possible. 

The  most  profitable  apple  to  raise  in 
large  quantities,  is  the  Baldwin.  They 
are  a  sure  bearer  once  in  two  years, 
and  always  sell  for  ready  cash  at  mar- 
ket price.  They  ripen  so  that  all  can 


WILMINGTON  FARMER. 


347 


De  gathered  at  once,  and  as  soon  as 
they  are  ready  for  market,  the  market 
is  generally  ready  for  them;  and  the 
farmer  will  receive  more  net  profit  from 
a  Baldwin  tree  than  from  any  other, 
compared  with  the  expense. 

The  origin  of  the  Baldwin  apple  has 
been  mnch  disputed.     Many  are  will- 
ing to  claim  it,  but  from  authentic  sour- 
ces, I  have  gained  the  information  that 
it  was  a  wild  tree  taken  from  the  woods 
in  the  South  part  of  Wilmington,  on 
what  is  called  Wood-hill,  by  William 
Butters,  and  transplanted  and  set  about 
fourteen  rods  from  his  back  door.  From 
that  tree  Colonel  Loammi  Baldwin  cut 
scions  for  his  own  orchard,  from  which 
originated  the  name.      On  that  point 
there  was  so  much  dispute,  I  felt  an 
interest  in  knowing,  if  possible,  where 
it  was  first  produced.      The  first  evi- 
dence was  gained  from  James  Butters, 
who  lived  on  Wood-hill.     He  informed 
me  that  the  tree  was  taken  from  land 
of  his,  and  frequently  urged  me  to  go 
and  see  the  hole  where  it  was  taken 
out  of ;  and  the  last  time  I  well  remem- 
ber his  words,  "  You  will  be  sorry  if 
you  don't."     His  words  proved  true. 


348  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  ! 

I  once  heard  that  the  tree  was  claim- 
ed in  North  Tewksbury,  and  made  a 
journey  up  there  to  see  what  proof 
could  be  afforded  of  it.  I  was  show- 
ed a  tree  they  called  a  Baldwin,  but  it 
bore  little  resemblance  to  the  Baldwin 
trees  of  Wilmington.  I  know  of  no 
better  way  to  describe  it,  than  by  call- 
ing it  a  two-story  tree.  I  did  not  see 
any  of  the  fruit,  nor  could  I  find  a  man 
in  the  neighborhood  that  was  able  to 
give  any  information  as  to  where  the 
tree  came  from.  Simeon  Butters,  son 
of  James  before  mentioned,  showed 
me,  as  near  as  he  could  recollect,  where 
the  tree  stood  when  it  bore  fruit ;  and 
at  another  time  Walter  Butters  showed 
me  the  same,  and  they  did  not  vary 
four  feet.  Likewise  the  widow  of 
Loammi  Butters  identified  the  same 
spot.  I  asked  all  three  of  the  last 
mentioned  persons  what  became  of 
that  tree.  The  first  said,  "  The  tree 
was  thrifty  when  I  went  to  live  in  Lynn 
eight  years  ago,  but  when  I  came  back 
I  never  noticed  it  afterward."  The 
second  could  tell  nothing  about  it.  I 
then  repaired  to  the  woman  and  asked 
her,  "  Can  you  tell  me  what  became 


WILMINGTON  FARMER. 


349 


of  that  tree r'  "I  guess  I  can,"  she 
replied.  "  The  day  that  I  was  married 
there  came  up  a  shower  just  before 
twelve  o'clock,  and  lightning  tore  that 
tree  all  to  pieces." 

The  Red  Astrican  grows  very  hand- 
some and  thrifty ;  the  apple  is  first  ripe 
about  the  tenth  of  August,  and  is  con- 
tinually ripening  for  five  weeks.     They 
require  picking  as  often  as  once  in  two 
days.     This  apple  is  not  suitable  for 
eating  but  for  about  four  days,  conse- 
quently it  must  be  carried  to  market 
often.     At  the  present  time  they  bring 
a  good  price  on  account  of  the  scarcity. 
The  Gravenstein  is  an  excellent  ap- 
ple for  eating  ;  everybody  likes  the  fla- 
vor of  it.     It  is  scarce  in  market  and 
commands  a  high  price. 

The  Hubbardston-Nonesuch  is  a  very 
good  apple  ;  some  prefer  it  to  the  Bald- 
win, but  it  will  not  keep  as  long. 

The  Blue  Pearmain  grows  large,  but 
is  not  a  good  winter  apple,  and  is  not 
so  profitable  to  raise  as  the  Baldwin. 

The  Maiden's  Blush  is  a  great  bear- 
er and  grows  fair.  It  is  a  first  rate  pie 
apple.  . 

The  Early  Sweetbow  grows  lair  and 


350  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  t 

large,  and  is  a  first  rate  eating  apple. 

The  Orange  Sweet  grows  in  clusters 
of  four  and  six,  touching  each  other. 
The  tree  is  rather  small  in  size,  with 
upright  branches,  and  bears  largely. 
They  ripen  the  last  of  August. 

The  Striped  Sweet  is  first  rate  for 
eating  or  baking,  and  sell  high. 

The  Green  Win  tei -Sweet  is  an  ex- 
cellent bearer  ;  very  fair  ;  small  core ; 
good  for  use  all  winter  ;  keep  till  June, 
and  the  worms  never  trouble  them. 

Wine  apple  ;  tree  handsome  ;  thrifty 
grower ;  upright  branches  ;  fruit  small 
in  size,  but  fair,  and  red  from  skin  to 
core. 

Iron  apple ;  small  in  size ;  very 
hard ;  never  fit  to  eat  raw ;  good  for 
pies  and  sauce  when  one  year  old,  and 
will  keep  till  September. 

The  best  time  to  cut  scions  is  the 
day  you  want  to  set  them.  But  this  is 
not  always  convenient;  in  that  case 
they  should  be  buried  in  a  box  of  loam. 
The  first  new  moon  in  May  is  the  best 
time  for  grafting.  If  you  hire  grafting 
done,  be  sure  to  employ  an  honest  man. 
I  once  employed  men  who  set  by  the 
scion,  and  when  I  was  absent  they  were 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  351 

seen  to  cut  scions  from  the  same  tree 
and  set  them.     When  the  trees  bore  . 
fruit,  the  truth  was  told. 

CRANBERRIES. 

Incidental  experience  has  shown  me 
that  cranberries   can  be  cultivated  to 
good    advantage.      In   several    places 
where  sand-hills    have  been  removed 
for  the  purpose  of  making  embank- 
ments on  railroads,  the  sand  was  taken 
down  as  low  as  could  be  for  water,  and 
afterwards  freshets  had  washed  cran- 
berries on  from  the  meadows  above. 
In  three  years  they  begun  to  bear,  and 
I  know  that,  one  year,  the  crop  was 
worth  $100  per  acre  on  the  vines.     If 
one  wishes  to  cultivate  cranberries,  the 
surest  way  would  be  to  select  a  spot  on 
a  brook  that  never  fails,  and  have  it 
graded  as  level  as  a  salt  marsh.     Then 
make  a  dam  above  and  one  below  to 
let  on  water  and  take  it  off  at  pleasure. 
This  process  will  sometimes  be  needed 
in  a  cold  night  in  June,  and  a  dry  time 
in  July  or  August  to  soak  the  ground 
and  give  growth  to  the  berry  and  des- 


352  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON: 

troy  worms,  and  in  cold  nights  in  Sep- 
tember to  keep  off  frost,  that  they  may 
ripen  on  the  vines.  In  these  circum- 
stances, I  think  a  man  may  be  as  snre 
of  a  crop  of  cranberries  as  of  a  crop 
of  corn.  A  brook  privilege  being  se- 
cured, the  best  location  is  where  a 
sandy  plain  joins  a  meadow,  and  in 
lowering  one  you  raise  the  other.  Sand 
is  the  best  manure  for  Cranberries. 
The  vines  should  be  covered  with  two 
feet  of  water  through  the  winter  sea- 
son to  prevent  the  iT5e  from  adhering  to 
the  ground  and  taking  it  up. 


CONCLUSION. 

Before  I  bring  this  volume  to  a  close 
let  me  say  a  word  or  two  upon  a  sub- 
ject which  has  for  many  years  engaged 
my  attention.  I  do  not  intend  to  bore 
my  readers  with  anything  lengthy  ;  I 
merely  wish  to  give  them  my  opinions 
upon  a  subject  which  interests  us  all. 
The  motives  which  lead  me  to  do  this, 
need  not  necessarily  be  given,  therefore 
I  will  proceed. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  353 

The  doctrine  of   "total  depravity" 
has  been  preached  and  expatiated  upon 
for  generations  and  generations,  when 
it  had  nothing,  to  my  mind,  for  a  foun- 
dation.    I  cannot  so  far  forget  my  ob- 
ligations to  God  as  to  suppose  for  a 
moment  that  he  is  the  author  of  a  to- 
tally depraved  being.     Men  may  sm, 
and  to  human  eyes  appear  totally  de- 
praved, but  to  the  all-seeing  eye  of  God 
I  cannot  think  they  so  appear.     I  be- 
lieve God  to  be  the  creator  and  father 
of  all  mankind ;  I  believe  him  to  be 
holy,  just,  wise  and  pure,  perfect  m 
everything ;  I  believe  he  created  man 
after  his  own  image  and  in  his  own 
likeness  ;  but  I  cannot  believe  that  God 
has  created  a  world   full  of   children 
without  one  particle  of  goodness  in  any 
of   them.      If   you  were  digging  for 
gold  and  had  taken  a  handful  of  earth, 
expecting  by  washing  it  to  find  gold, 
but  which  did  not  contain  any,- you 
might  wash  it  all  away  and  you  would 
find  no  gold.     Now  if  man  is  totally 
depraved  there  can  be  nothing  in  him 
worth  saving.     This  I  do  not,  I  cannot, 
I  will  not  believe.     We  are  God's  re- 
bellious children,  yet  he  knows  how  to 


354  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

separate  the  gold  from  the  dross.  What 
proportion  of  us  will  come  forth  as  gold, 
God  only  knows.  Do  right  and  trust 
the  event.  Forget  not  that  Christ  said, 
"  By  their  works  ye  shall  know  them." 
In  the  Bible  we  read,  "  And  the  books 
were  opened ;  and  another  book  was 
opened,  which  is  the  book  of  life ;  and 
the  dead  were  judged  out  of  those 
things  that  were  written  in  the  books, 
according  to  their  works."  Here,  cer- 
tainly, we  find  great  encouragement  to 
live  a  good,  moral  life.  How  shall  we 
do  this  ?  My  friends,  young  and  old, 
if  you  have  not  already  done  it,  adopt 
the  rule  to-day,  to  do  unto  others  as 
you  would  have  them  do  unto  you. 
Follow  this  rule,  and  you  will  soon  love 
God,  and  he  will  be  sure  to  love  you. 
It  may  not  make  you  rich,  but  my  word 
for  it,  it  will  make  you  happy.  Some 
may  say,  that  there  are  none  that  do  as 
they  would  be  done  by,  but  this  I  will 
not  admit.  I  have  been  acquainted 
with  mankind  more  than  seventy  years, 
and  have  come  to  this  conclusion,  that 
the  best  of  men  do  in  their  daily  walk 
live  near  to  God,  and  that  there  are 
^grades  all  the  way  down  until  the  worst 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  355 

come  so  near  the  devil  that  it  is  hard 
to  discriminate  between  them.  I  have 
been,  for  a  certain  reason,  watching 
the  conduct  of  men  for  more  than  thir- 
ty years  in  order  to  find  as  many  as  I 
could  that  lived  up  to  this  rule,  and  I 
feel  it  my  duty  to  set  before  my  readers 
the  names  of  some  of  them,  that  others 
may  be  encouraged  to  do  likewise. 

Accordingly  I  publish  a  list  of  the 
names  of  men  who  I  defy  mankind  to 
prove  by  truth-telling  witnesses,  before 
a  righteous  jury,  that  they  ever  used 
another  man  worse  than  they  would,  be 
willing  to  be  used  in  exchange  of  con- 
ditions : 

Ephraim  Hastings,  died  at  Nashua, 
N.  H.  ;  Lambert  Hastings,  St.  Johns- 
bury,  Vt. ;  Cyrus  Skinner,  Lyrne,  N. 
H. ;  Dexter  Fay,  Southborough,  Amos 
Hill,  Jr.,  Belmont,  John  Buckman, 
Stoneham,  Charles  Goddard,  Win- 
chester, Isaac  Flint,  North  Reading, 
Ebenezer  D.  Batchelder,  North  Read- 
ing, Jonathan  Batchelder,  North  Read- 
ing, Marshall  Symmes,  Winchester, 
Charles  S.  Storrow,  Lawrence,  Eben 
King,  Eben  Upton,  South  Danvers, 
Edward  Parker,  Reading,  Capt.  David 


356  LIFE  OP   ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

Graves,  North  Reading,  Patrick  T. 
Jackson,  Boston,  Dea.  Henry  Putnam, 
Joseph  Batchelder,  John  Batchelder, 
of  North  Reading,  Col.  Benj.  Jenkins, 
Capt.  Benj.  Jenkins,  Samuel  Jenkins, 
Capt.  Stephen  Abbott,  of  Andover, 
Dea.  John  Symmes,  Winchester.  The 
thirteen  last  named  persons  are  dead. 
All  these  men  I  have  known  for  many 
years,  and  think  there  are  thousands 
of  other  good  men  of  my  acquantance 
whom  I  have  not  proved  through  pros- 
perity and  adversity.  Those  that  I  have 
named  I  have  proved,  and  can  bear 
testimony  that  they  are  not  depraved 
men.  What  a  blessed  world  this  would 
be  to  live  in,  if  every  one  would  do  as 
he  would  be  done  by.  Now  reader, 
do  not  fall  into  the  error  of  believing 
that  you  cannot  do  right  because  others 
do  not.  If  a  right  state  of  feeling  is 
ever  brought  about,  it  will  be  by  each 
and  every  one  minding  his  own  busi- 
ness. I  hope  that  you  and  I  shall  try 
it,  that  others  may  follow. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  357 


LECTURE. 


In  the  month  of  February,  1859,  I 
was  invited  by  the  officers  of  the 
"  Farmer's  Club,"  of  North  Reading, 
to  address  them  on  the  subject  of 
Farming.  I  accepted,  and  delivered 
the  following  Address,  with  which  I 
close  this  volume,  before  the  Club,  in 
the  Town  Hall,  at  that  place. 


MR.  PRESIDENT,  GENTLEMEN  AND  LA- 
DIES : — I  have  no  apology  to  offer,  for 
appearing  before  you  this  evening.  I 
will  only  say,  that  any  common  man 
ought  to  feel  proud  of  the  privilege  of 
standing  before  the  combined  wisdom 
and  intelligence  of  the  Farmers  of 
North  Reading,  and  addressing  them 
on  a  subject  of  more  importance  to  the 
world  than  all  others. 

When  I  say  farmers,  I  mean  fathers, 
mothers,  sons  and  daughters  ;  for  as 


358  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

no  house  can  stand  when  divided 
against  itself,  so  no  man  can  farm  suc- 
cessfully if  his  family  are  not  content 
with  that  occupation.  The  few  re- 
marks that  I  shall  make  this  evening, 
are  not  to  tell  you  how  to  farm,  but — 

1st.  To  prove  to  you  that  farming, 
with  equal  system,  is  the  most  profita- 
ble occupation  pursued  within  the  Uni- 
ted States. 

2d — It  is  the  most  independent. 

3d — It  is  the  most  healthy, 

4th — It  is  the  most  honorable. 

First — Farming,  with  equal  system, 
is  the  most  profitable  occupation  within 
the  United  States.  This  you  may 
think,  is  a  bold  declaration,  but  if  you 
will  have  patience/ 1  will  give  you  the 
proofs. 

If  the  country  merchant  fails  in  his 
business,  he  generally  owes  some  of 
the  most  fore-handed  farmers  in  his 
neighborhood,  money  that  he  borrow- 
ed to  establish  him  in  his  business.  If 
the  butcher  fails,  he  owes  one  farmer 
for  a  pair  of  fat  oxen,  another  for  a 
cow,  and  still  another  for  a  hog.  So, 
if  the  tanner  fails,  he  is  indebted  to  one 
farmer  for  a  load  of  bark,  another  for 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  359 

hides,  and  a  third  for  calf-skins.  If 
the  carpenter  fails,  he  is  indebted  to 
one  farmer  for  timber  and  a  second  for 
boards.  If  the  shoe  manufacturer  fails, 
he  owes  one  farmer  for  a  load  of  wood, 
another  for  a  load  of  hay,  and  almost 
every  farmer's  daughter  in  the  parish 
for  binding  shoes.  Yet  with  all  these 
losses,  the  farmer  still  lives;  and  why  ? 
because  there  is  profit  in  his  occupa- 
tion. 

Now,  gentlemen,  show  me  a  man 
sixty  years  of  age,  of  good  health,  good 
habits,  and  good  common  sense,  who 
has  never  followed  any  business  but 
that  of  farming,  and  I  will  show  you  a 
man  that  the  world  has  never  lost  one 
cent  by. 

Mr.  President,  I  have  already  stated 
that  unless  the  farmer  has  the  hearty 
co-operation  of  his  family  he  cannot 
succeed  in  his  business.  These  ladies 
may  inquire  how  can  we  increase  the 
profits  of  farming'?  To  this  inquiry,  I 
would  answer,  Ethan  Allen  understood 
how  you  could  do  this.  When  taken  a 
prisoner  to  England,  the  nobility  there, 
finding  that  he  was  a  man  of  good 
sense  and  information,  had  him  taken 


360  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

into  the  presence  of  the  ladies  that 
they  might  question  him  concerning 
the  habits  of  the  Americans.  Among 
the  many  questions  asked  him  was 
this:  "What  time  do  the  ladies  of 
America  walk  out  for  pleasure  ?"  His 
answer  was,  "Anytime  when  the  hens, 
turkeys,  geese  or  ducks  need  feeding." 
"  Do  the  ladies  of  America  stoop  to 
feeding  poultry?"  they  inquired.  He 
answered,  "  The  ladies  of  America 
know  how  to  turn  every  duty  into  a 
pleasure."  This  was  the  case  with  the 
ladies  at  the  time  of  the  Revolution, 
and  I  know  from  my  own  observation 
that  there  are  some  of  the  same  stamp 
yet. 

A  few  years  ago  I  noticed  in  the  pa- 
pers an  advertisement  of  a  large  farm, 
with  a  heavy  growth  of  wood  and  tim- 
ber on  it,  for  sale  in  New  Hampshire. 
Thinking  that  it  might  be  bought  at  a 
bargain,  I  went  to  look  at  it.  A  young 
lady  answered  my  knock  at  the  door, 
and  informed  me  that  her  father  was 
absent  with  the  team  and  would  not 
return  until  evening,  "  but,"  said  she, 
"  if  you  will  state  your  business,  per- 
haps I  can  assist  you."  On  learning 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  361 

that  I  wished  to  go  over  the  farm,  tell- 
ing me  to  wait  one  moment,  she  went 
into  the  house,  but  soon  returned, 
dressed  in  hat,  frock,  and  boots,  and 
we  started  on  our  walk.  After  point- 
ing out  three  of  the  boundaries  of  the 
farm,  she  told  me  where  I  could  easily 
find  the  fourth,  "  but,"  said  she,  "  I 
must  now  go,  and  tie  up  the  cattle." 
After  walking  about  the  farm  as  long 
as  I  wished,  I  met  her  at  the  barn. 
She  had  just  finished  tying  up  the  cat- 
tle, and  invited  me  to  look  at  the  corn. 
This  I  did,  and  my  guide  informed  me 
that  it  had  all  been  measured  in  the 
ear,  and  estimated  to  be  four  hundred 
bushels  shelled  corn,  and  that  she  and 
her  father  planted  it  all,  she  dropping 
and  her  father  covering.  From  the 
corn  barn  we  proceeded  to  the  house, 
where  it  was  arranged  that  I  should 
stop  over  night  to  see  the  owner  of  the 
farm.  Our  heroine  now  laid  aside  her 
farm  dress,  appearing  as  neatly  dressed 
as  any  young  lady  could  wish  to  be, 
and  assisted  her  mother  in  preparing 
supper.  As  soon  as  the  team  was 
.heard  approaching,  she  again  put  on 
her  frock,  and  lighting  a  lantern,  went 


362  LIFE    OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

to  the  barn  and  helped  her  father  put 
up  the  team.  This  done,  we  all  eat 
supper.  After  clearing  away  the  tea- 
things,  my  young  friend  again  pre- 
pared to  go  out,  and  in  answer  to  her 
father's  inquiry  where  she  was  going, 
replied,  "  to  feed  the  oxen."  "  No, 
no,"  said  he,  "  I'll  go."  "  No,  father," 
she  instantly  replied,  "  you  are  tired, 
you  sit  still  and  rest,  and  let  me  go," 
and  go  she  did,  after  which  she  seated 
herself  at  her  piano  and  entertained  us 
for  a  while  with  music. 

Mr.  President,  if  I  could  mention  a 
thousand  young  women  like  this  in- 
stead of  one,  which  I  sincerely  wish  I 
could,  I  presume  we  should  not  hear  of 
one  of  them  being  troubled  with  dys- 
pepsia. 

But  there  is  still  another  profit  in 
farming,  that  cannot  be  estimated  by 
dollars  and  cents.  It  is  better  calcu- 
lated to  improve  the  mind  and  morals 
of  man  than  any  other  occupation.  The 
reflecting  farmer  must  see  that  he  is 
a  co-worker  with  God  and  Nature. 
While  he  is  cultivating  his  crops,  and 
they  are  growing  in  the  fields,  he  can- 
not help  observing  this.  When  the 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  363 

grass  is  grown,  and  man  cuts  it,  nature 
cures  it,  and  God  sustains  them  both. 

Second.  Farming  is  the  most  inde- 
pendent occupation.  No  other  occu- 
pation can  live  without  it.  No  ship 
can  be  laden  without  the  aid  of  the 
farmer.  No  cultivated  food  can  be 
raised  for  man  or  beast,  without  his 
labor.  Why,  ladies,  the  very  silks 
you  wear  were  once  the  habitation  of 
worms,  those  worms  fed  on  mulberry 
leaves,  and  the  mulberry  trees  raised 
by  the  farmer.  Not  one  particle  of 
food  or  raiment  can  be  produced  with- 
out his  aid. 

It  has  been  said  by  many  that  the 
Irish  have  performed  the  labor  of 
building  our  railroads.  But,  Mr.  Pres- 
ident, allow  me  to  tell  you  that  more 
than  one-half  the  money  the  Irish  have 
received  for  labor  on  railroads  has  been 
spent  for  their  living,  while  doing  that 
very  work,  and  this  living,  was  pro- 
duced by  the  farmer.  This  shows  us 
that  the  farmer  has  not  been  backward 
in  doing  his  share  toward  building  all 
the  railroads  in  the  United  States. 
And  who  is  it,  I  ask,  that  now  furnish- 
es these  railroads  with  employment? 


364  LIFE  OF   ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

Who  produces  the  horses,  cattle,  sheep, 
hogs,  wheat,  rye,  barley,  oats,  potatoes, 
apples,  cotton,  wool,  and  almost  every 
article  that  can  be  mentioned,  that  are 
daily  transported  on  our  railroads  ?  It 
is  the  farmer.  If  the  farmer  should 
cease  to  produce  cotton,  wool,  flax  and 
hemp,  what  would  become  of  our  fac- 
tories ? 

If  a  new  country  is  to  be  settled, 
who  is  the  pioneer?  Is  it  the  minis- 
ter? No,  for  he  would  starve  while 
studying  his  first  sermon.  Is  it  the  doc- 
tor? No,  for  there  is  no  one  there 
with  whom  he  could  exchange  his 
medicine  for  a  dinner.  Is  it  the  law- 
yer? No,  for  he  would  perish  amid 
his  law-books.  Who,  then,  is  it?  It 
is  the  farmer,  who  feeds  all,  and  gives 
employment  to  all.  Farmers  have  it 
in  their  own  power  to  render  them- 
selves happier  and  more  independent 
than  they  now  are.  In  order  to  do 
this,  they  must  raise  their  standard  to 
its  proper  place.  The  farmers  of 
Massachusetts  can  outvote  all  other 
ocupations  by  a  large  majority.  They 
possess  the  power  toelect  any  man,  from 
any  occupation,  to  any  office  they  please. 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  365 

I  would  not  ask  them  to  be  domineer- 
ing over  any  other  class  of  people.  I 
am  willing  that  all  other  classes  shall 
have  their  full  share  of  representation 
in  every  department  of  government. 
But  have  the  farmers,  in  times  past, 
looked  out  to  have  their  share  1  Have 
we  not  sent  to  General  Court  and  to 
Congress,  too  many  professional  men  ? 
Has  not  this  led  ministers,  doctors  and 
lawyers  to  look  down  upon  the  farmer, 
when  in  reality,  if  the  farmer  would 
but  assert  his  rights,  they  would  all  be 
obliged  to  look  up  to  him. 

I  could  say  much  more,  under  this 
head,  but  enough  has  already  been  said, 
I  think,  to  prove  that  the  farmer  furn- 
ishes all  other  classes  with  food  and 
employment.  Mr.  President,  when  I 
think  of  the  farmer's  position,  and 
compare  it  with  all  others,  it  reminds 
me  of  a  story  I  heard  when  a  boy. 

Three  men,  travelling  together  in  a 
wild  country,  became  very  thirsty,  but 
travelled  a  long  time  without  finding 
any  water.  At  length,  however,  they 
came  to  a  river,  the  banks  of  which 
were  composed  of  a  perpendicular  ledge 
of  stone.  Not  seeing  any  way  of  de- 


366  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

scent,  they  travelled  on  until  they  dis- 
covered a  tree  growing  from  a  seam  in 
the  ledge,  whose  branches  extended 
over  the  water,  but  were  several  feet 
above  it.  After  a  hasty  consultation, 
they  came  to  this  conclusion.  The 
stoutest  man  of  the  three  was  to  climb 
the  tree,  and  taking  hold  of  a  branch, 
hang  down  ;  the  next  stoutest  to  hang 
by  the  feet  of  the  first,  while  the  third, 
the  lightest  of  the  whole,  was  to  hang 
by  the  feet  of  the  second,  and  fill  a 
leather  bag  with  water  from  the  stream, 
and  bring  it  up  for  them  to  drink.  While 
he  was  filling  the  bag,  the  upper  one, 
growing  tired,  says  to  his  comrades, 
"  you  hold  fast,  while  I  let  go  and  spit 
on  my  hands." 

Now.  Mr.  President,  this  shows  what 
would  be  the  condition  of  all  occupa- 
tions, if  the  farmer  should  cease  his 
operations.  All  would  sink  together. 

Third.  Farming  is  the  most  healthy 
occupation.  This  fact  is  so  well  known 
that  I  need  say  but  a  few  words  under 
this  head.  The  report  of  deaths  in 
this  country  for  past  years,  speaks  more 
plainly  than  any  words  of  mine  can  do. 
Yet  1  will  give  what  I  think  are  a 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  367 

* 

few  of  the  reasons  why  this  is  so. 
One  is,  the  farmer  eats  the  fruit  of 
his  own  hands  ;  he  knows  that  what- 
ever food  he  produces  is  pure  and  un- 
adulterated. The  children  of  the  farm- 
er drink  the  pure  milk  from  the  farm- 
er's cow.  Another  is,  he  follows  in 
the  fresh  furrow  of  his  plow.  And 
how  often  do  physicians  prescribe  for 
their  patients  this  smell  of  the  fresh 
earth.  But  the  farmer's  occupation 
supplies  him  with  this.  This,  how- 
ever, only  applies  to  the  male  portion. 
Now  I  will  prove  that  it  is  the  most 
healthy  for  females.  How  often  we  find 
the  daughters  of  professional  men  and 
mechanics,  who  would  disdain  to  milk 
a  cow,  skim  a  pan  of  milk,  or  prepare 
a  churning  of  butter  for  market,  out 
of  health,  and  on  consulting  a  physi- 
cian, are  told  that  they  must  go  on  a 
journey  to  the  springs,  ride  on  horse- 
back, or  take  other  out-door  exercise ; 
while  the  farmer's  daughter,  who 
cheerfully  assists  her  mother  in  the 
kitchen,  the  dairy,  and  tending  the- 
poultry,  never  knows  the  need  of  such 
exercise. 

Mr.  President,  allow  me  to  relate  ar* 


368  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

anecdote,  which  may  be  of  service  to 
some  of  the  rising  generation.  It  will 
show  the  young  ladies  how  to  reject 
one  man  and  accept  another.  The 
heroine  of  this  anecdote  was  a  respect- 
able farmer's  daughter.  A  young  man 
of  her  acquaintance  called  on  her  one 
evening,  and  made  proposals  of  mar- 
riage. She  told  him  that  she  wished 
until  the  next  evening  to  decide.  The 
following  afternoon  she  told  her  father 
that  she  wanted  the  horse  to  go  about 
two  miles.  At  the  appointed  time  the 
horse  was  saddled,  and  she  mounted 
and  rode  off.  On  arriving  at  the  place 
where  she  intended  to  stop,  she  saw 
that  the  great  barn-doors  were  open, 
and  the  old  gentleman  was  pitching 
off  a  load  of  hay  which  stood  on  the 
barn  floor.  She  rode  up  and  inquired 
of  him,  "  where  is  your  son  Samuel  V 
"  He  is  up  on  the  mow,  taking  away 
the  hay,"  was  his  answer.  "  I  want 
to  speak  with  him,"  said  she.  Sam 
then  jumped  from  the  mow  on  to  the 
load  of  hay,  by  the  side  of  his  father. 
"  You  need  not  come  any  further,"  said 
she,  "I  can  say  what  I  wish  here;  I 
have  nothing  private."  She  then  told 


"WILMINGTON  FARMER.  369 

him  that  she  had  received  proposals  of 
marriage  from  a  certain  young  man. 
"  But,"  she  said,  "  I  have  never  seen 
any  one  1  love  as  I  do  you,  and  the 
last  time  we  stood  side  by  side  and 
read  in  the  old  school-house,  I  made 
up  my  mind  that  I  never  would  give 
my  heart  and  hand  to  any  one  until  I 
knew  you  would  not  accept  them. 
Now,"  said  she,  "  I  want  to  know 
whether  you  will  marry  me  or  not." 
The  old  gentleman,  unable  to  keep 
silent  any  longer,  called  out,  "  take  her 
Sam,  take  her,  she'll  make  you  a  good 
one."  The  young  people  exchanged  a 
few  words,  when  the  old  farmer,  in 
joy  cried  out,  "  its  a  bargain,  and  I'm  a 
happy  witness.  God  bless  you,  my 
children."  The  next  evening,  when 
the  young  man  came  for  his  answer, 
she  told  him  his  offer  was  an  honora- 
able  one,  and  she  thanked  him  for  it ; 
that  she  should  always  respect  him, 
and  speak  well  of  him  to  her  female 
acquaintances ;  but  duty  required  her 
to  give  a  negative  answer.  Now,  this 
was  a  real  farmers'  courtship,  and  if 
there  were  more  like  it,  there  would 
be  fewer  unhappy  marriages. 


370  LIFE  OF  ASA  G.  SHELDON: 

Since  railroads  have  become  so  com- 
mon and  convenient,  I  have  noticed 
that  some  young  ladies  spend  a  great 
deal  of  their  time  riding  in  the  cars. 
Now,  I  know  not  what  their  business 
is,  neither  do  I  expect  to ;  but  one 
thing  I  am  quite  sure  of,  they  are  not 
like  this  young  woman,  in  pursuit  of  a 
farmer's  son  for  a  husband,  and  I  have 
come  to  this  conclusion,  that  if  they 
would  spend  less  of  their  time  in  this 
way,  and  more  of  it  in  assisting  their 
mothers  in  that  portion  of  farm  work 
belonging  to  the  female  sex,  they 
would  be  healthier,  happier,  and  in  the 
married  life  more  contented  with  their 
husbands. 

But  the  last  and  most  important 
reason  why  farming  is  healthy,  per- 
haps, is  his  spending  so  great  a  pro- 
portion of  his  time  at  work  in  the  open 
air,  which  gives  him  a  good  relish  for 
his  food,  and  strengthens  his  whole 
body. 

Fourth.  Farming  is  the  most  hon- 
orable occupation.  God  himself  is  the 
author  of  it.  We  read  in  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  that  "  the  Lord  God  plant- 
ed a  garden  eastward  in  Eden,"  and 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  371 

"  the  Lord  God  took  the  man  and  put 
him  into  the  garden  to  dress  it  and  to 
keep  it."  Now,  will  any  one  be  so 
impious  as  to  say  that  an  occupation 
is  disrespectful  that  God  himself  is  the 
author  of?  Will  any  mother  teach  her 
children  that  the  first  duty  that  God 
ever  pointed  out  for  man  to  perform 
was  not  honorable  ?  Shall  an  occupa- 
tion which  feeds  the  whole  world,  and 
has,  from  the  foundation  of  the  world 
up  to  the  present  time,  fed  all  the 
human  race  —  shall  such  an  occupa- 
tion be  called  disrespectful?  Not  even 
the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  could  be 
preached  among  us  without  it.  Is 
there  any  father,  mother,  son,  or 
daughter,  who  would  dare  to  stand  up  in 
this  assembly  and  say  that  farming  is 
dishonorable  ? 

Friends,  let  us  for  a  moment  com- 
pare the  employment  of  the  farmer 
with  that  of  the  broker,  who  shaves 
notes  in  State  street.  We  well  know 
that  a  year  or  more  past  has  been  a 
busy  time  for  this  class  of  men.  Sup- 
pose a  broker  executes  his  cunning 
faculties  to  their  utmost  ability,  and 
shaves  notes  at  an  enormous  interest. 


372  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

He  feels  that  he  has  added  greatly  to 
his  fortune ;  but  when  night  comes,  as 
he  lays  his  head  on  his  pillow,  con- 
science asks  him,  What  have  you 
done  to-day  for  the  benefit  of  the  hu- 
man race  ?  He  is  troubled  for  an  an- 
swer, and  turns  over.  But  conscience 
again  interrogates  him  —  Have  you 
done  anything  to  relieve  the  wants  of 
the  suffering  ?  Have  you  done  any- 
thing toward  feeding  the  fowls  of  the 
air,  or  the  beasts  of  the  fields  ?  Have 
you  done  anything  productive  of  man's 
happiness  ?  Have  you  done  anything 
for  which  the  rising  generation  will  rise 
up  and  call  you  blessed  ] 

In  answer  to  all  these  inquiries,  con- 
science compels  him  to  answer,  "  No," 
and  he  turns  himself  in  bed,  in  hopes 
of  going  to  sleep,  but  his  dreams  are 
troublesome. 

Mr.  President,  we  here  see"  that  for 
all  this  man's  great  day's  work,  the 
world  is  not  one  cent  better  off. 

Let  us  now  turn  our  attention  to  the 
farmer  for  a  moment.  Suppose  he 
applies  his  wisdom,  skill  and  strength 
to  carry  on  his  occupation.  Where 
the  brush  was  growing,  the  last  time 


WILMINGTON  FARMER.  373' 

we  saw  the  spot,  to-day  we  see  beau- 
tiful fields  of  grass  and  grain,  growing 
for  man  and  beast  —  all  for  the  benefit 
of  the  whole  human  family.  The 
farmer,  also  lays  his  head  on  the  pil- 
low at  night,  and  in  his  mind  reviews 
the  labors  of  the  day.  His  conscience 
approves  every  act,  and  says  to  him, 
"  The  earth  rejoices  in  being  able  to 
produce  food  for  man,  where  nothing 
but  briars  grew  before.  Nature  smiles 
and  man  is  blessed  with  the  harvest ; 
God  is  glorified  in  seeing  man  perform 
the  first  duty  he  assigned  him,  and  by 
his  blessing  sanctions  the  declaration, 
that  God,  Nature  and  Man  are  co- 
workers  in  producing  food  and  happi- 
ness for  the  whole  family  of  man. 

Mr.  President,  in  conclusion,  I  would 
say,  that  at  the  beginning  of  farming 
God  would  not  have  planted  a  garden 
in  Eden  and  put  man  in  it,  to  dress  and 
keep  it,  if  He,  in  His  infinite  wisdom, 
had  not  foreseen  that  it  would  be  a 
profitable,  independent,  healthy,  honor- 
able and  happy  employment  for  the 
human  race. 

If  my  hearers  are  not  already  tired, 


374  LIFE  OP  ASA  G.  SHELDON  : 

I  would  like  to  close  with  the  follow- 
ing sentiment : — 

WOMAN  —  We  honor  her,  because 
she  is  a  free  gift  from  God  to  man  ; 
we  love  her,  because  God,  in  all  His 
work  of  creation,  never  has  created  a 
being  more  worthy  of  man's  love. 


EEEATA, 


In  the  beginning  of  this  volume, 
mistakes  occur  in  several  different 
names,  in  various  places.  Wherever 
the  name  "  Patty  Tapley "  occurs,  it 
should  be  "Polly  Tapley;"  "Daniel 
Parker"  should  be  "David  Parker;" 
"  Jerre  Tapley"  should  be  "Jesse 
Tapley,"  and  "Patty  Parker"  should 
be  "  Polly  Parker." 


- 


. 


25832 


IA,  SUUmtMN  HtljIUNAL  LIHHAHY  hAULITY 


A     000  677  870     8 


